Court Delivers Judgment On DSS Application To Detain Sowore

An application by the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters and convener of RevolutionNow, has been dismissed by the court.

Naija News reports that the decision of the court came on the heels of the withdrawal of the application by DSS earlier.

Femi Falana, the counsel to detained Sowore, persuaded the court to order the immediate release of his client as the prosecution is no longer interested to detain him further.

On the other hand, counsel to the DSS challenged the oral application for release saying that a formal suit has been filed where Sowore is being accused of a treasonable felony which is a capital offence.

Naija News recalls that Sowore, who is seen by some as an activist, was arrested by the DSS on August 3 for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This online news platform understands that the DSS, which is the prosecutor, is asking the Court to deny the respondent bail due to the fresh charges filed against him.

On the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, September 24, the struck out the application to detain Sowore on the grounds that the DSS withdrew its application.

Reacting to the judgment, Sowore’s lawyer, Falana said the application for bail was withdrawn and the prosecutor’s application for further remand was also withdrawn. He stressed that the new charges can’t metamorphose In a remand order.

The counsel to Sowore charged the court to disregard the submission on the prosecutor, noting that the prosecutor can not ask the court to detain a citizen prospectively and in anticipation of the arraignment of the defendant order his detention.