DSS Arrest: Falana To Defend Sowore In Court

Human rights and constitutional lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), says he will defend Omoyele Sowore in court should the Federal Government decide to arraign him over “Revolution Now” protest.

Naija News reports that Falana said this while speaking at an event organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) on Tuesday, August 6.

This online news platform understands that Sowore, a pro-democracy activist and convener of “Revolution Now” movement, has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since he was arrested on Saturday.

The DSS had accused the former Presidential candidate of threatening public peace and safety with his planned nationwide protest.

Speaking on the matter, Falana said Sowore refused to write a statement, insisting the DSS allow him to speak with his lawyer (Falana).

“I do hope that the government will not be stupid to charge Sowore. In fairness to them (DSS), they gave him a telephone to phone me. Of course, I knew they were monitoring the phone, and I told him I hope they won’t charge you, because if they do, some of the people in government will be our witnesses,” he said. 

“You know why? One of them, I won’t mention his name. In 2011, he asked Nigerians to learn from the Egyptian revolution and be ready for a revolution in Nigeria. So, he will be my first witness. 

“The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and four other people were charged with treasonable felony by the Ibrahim Babangida junta. I was one of them. We were detained in Kuje prison for two months. We were taken to the court, and what was the offence? I think we went beyond Sowore. We posted thousands of posters across the country, that Babangida must go. That was the treasonable felony.”