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Tag: dss

  • Sowore orchestrated court drama to embarrass Nigeria-Coalition alleges

    A coalition of civil society organizations has alleged that co-convener of #Revolution Now protest, Omoyele Sowore, masterminded the drama witnessed at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja, to embarrass Nigeria before international community.

    This is just as the coalition urged the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and other security agencies not to compromise internal security of the country in the face of cheap blackmail.

    The coalition while staging a peaceful demonstration yesterday in Abuja, urged management of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Police to investigate and apprehend those involved in the make-believe drama.

    Convener of the Guidance for Democracy Initiative, Prince Danesi Mohmoh, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, explained that the drama was plotted to mislead the media, thereby deceiving Nigerians.

    “Watch the video keenly, the people inside the court room were not DSS operatives, I am, not speaking for them, but they were not DSS operatives. Sowore and his master, Femi Falana, know best what they planned in the court; the simple message was just to give Nigeria a bad name amongst committee on nations.

    “If you have ever had dealings with any Nigerian security outfit, you will discover that the laws that established them stipulate where and where they can operate, that was a court room for God sake,” Danesi said.

    He, however, urged the DSS and police to apprehend and prosecute those involved in the drama, saying “I am using this medium to call on the DSS to speedy the investigation on that video footage and those people perpetrated the act should be brought to book.

    “We do not see any reason the media will be cajoled to misinform the public. I was at the court the same day, and my message there was clear, that the judiciary upholds only the constitution and jettison pressure from any political and tribal sentiment.”

    While fielding questions from journalists on the re-arrest and detention of Sowore, Danesi said:

    “We don’t have a place for revolution in Nigeria’s Constitution; we have a place for transition. Some people are coming with the idea if revolution, we will resist them at all times and we will continue to resist them. We have advised them, they are Nigerians, they have the constitutional right to protest, but there is no one, including the president who has the capacity to call for a revolution, anybody calling for a revolution is on his own, and we urge well-meaning Nigerians to dissociate themselves from that call.

    “If anybody wants to become the president of Nigeria, it can only be achieve through the ballot box not through revolution. You must join a political party, aspire and mobilise Nigerians for support. If anybody thinks he can tinker with the idea of violence or revolution, because he has earned from his foreign collaborators, Nigeria is not the right place for him.”

     

  • DSS invasion: Judges at risk of being arrested during court session ― Akeredolu

    DSS invasion: Judges at risk of being arrested during court session ― Akeredolu

    Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, has condemned the manner in which operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the court to rearrest Omoyele Sowore on Friday.

    The DSS rearrested Sowore, convener of RevolutionNow Movement, at the federal high court in Abuja less than 24 hours after he was released following a detention that lasted 124 days.

    The presidency had defended this action, saying Sowore is a person of interest to the secret police.

    But Akeredolu, who is governor of Sowore’s home state of Ondo, said with the way things went in court, lawyers could be arrested during court sessions.

    The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) spoke at an NBA programme in Ibadan, Oyo state capital.

    “It should be an anathema to the bar that inaction has come upon us. The bar needs to talk on quite a number of things,” he said.

    “We must be terror against demagogues. It is when your voice of the bar is heard consistently that it will earn respect. Will people go and desecrate our courtrooms and we keep quiet? The bar must condemn it. There is no explanation anybody can give you.

    “Somebody calls it drama. Drama! How? What we saw was not drama, you must stand up to condemn the SSS for what they did in Abuja.

    “Our spirit must remain indomitable. Forget about where we are today because enough of us made efforts to say what you have done is wrong and only way out was apology almost immediately but what people believe is different.

    “If we are not careful, the day will come that people will walk into a judge’s sitting and arrest people with their wig and gown.”

    The governor asked lawyers to be courageous and prosecute their conviction without fear.

    NBA had on Saturday called for the immediate suspension of Yusuf Bichi, director-general of the DSS.

  • Sowore’s re-arrest: DSS acted right, no serious govt will condone call for destabilisation – Presidency

    Sowore’s re-arrest: DSS acted right, no serious govt will condone call for destabilisation – Presidency

    The Nigerian Presidency, on Sunday, reacted to the raging debates and harsh reactions that have trailed the arrest and trial of the Convener of ‘Revolution Now’ agitation, Omoyele Sowore.

    It said the government and its agencies would not stand asides, fold their arms and watch another latently dangerous agitation, like the Boko Haram terrorism and the Nnamdi Kanu-led Biafran agitation plunge the country deeper into violent crisis.

    Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, in a statement made available to newsmen, noted that Mr. Sowore, whom he described as “the agitator”, is not just an “ordinary citizen expressing his views freely on social media and the internet”.

    According to him, Sowore, a presidential candidate in the last general election, publisher of one of the most widely read online newspaper, with base in the United States of America, now calling for a revolution to overthrow a democratically elected government, is definitely a person of interest to security agents.

    He also pointed out the fact that the Department of State Security (DSS), did not need prompting from the Presidency to carry out its constitutionally assigned responsibility to arrest situations that are potentially threatening to the peace, safety and security of the country anytime it discovers it.

    He, however, reiterated that there is no serious government or state in the world that will condone anyone or group that openly calls for its destabilization, adding that Sowore, with his base in New York, USA, had no fear of sharing in the tribulation that will follow the sort of incendiary he champion, as he could easy slip out to the country and leave the rest of the country to bear the consequences of the crisis he must have caused.

    “The DSS does not necessarily need the permission of the Presidency in all cases to carry out its essential responsibilities that are laid down in the Nigerian Constitution – which was the foundation for the restoration of democracy in our country in 1999.

    “However, it should not surprise anyone who has followed his actions and words that Sowore is a person of interest to the DSS. Sowore called for a revolution to overthrow the democratically elected government of Nigeria. He did so on television, and from a privileged position as the owner of a widely read digital newspaper run from the United States of America.

    “He founded an organisation, Revolution Now, to launch, in their own words, “Days of Rage”, with the publicised purpose of fomenting mass civil unrest and the elected administration’s overthrow. No government will allow anybody to openly call for destabilization in the country and do nothing.

    “Mr. Sowore is no ordinary citizen expressing his views freely on social media and the internet. He was a presidential candidate himself, who ran – and lost – as the flag bearer of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the February 23 general elections.

    “Nigeria’s democracy was a long time in the making, and was achieved after decades of often harsh, military-led overthrows of government: the kind of situation Sowore was advocating. To believe in and desire armed revolution is not normal amongst ‘human rights activists’, as Sowore has been incorrectly described.

    “Again, it is no surprise that he should be a person of interest to the DSS. Nigeria is already dealing with an insurgency that has left millions of people displaced and desperate in the northeastern region of our country. The Boko Haram militants, who are behind the violence, also fancy themselves to be fighting for some sort of revolution.

    “Nigerians do not need another spate of lawlessness and loss of lives all in the name of ‘revolution’, especially not one that is orchestrated by a man who makes his home in faraway New York – and who can easily disappear and leave behind whatever instability he intends to cause, to wit, Nnamdi Kanu. This is a matter for the DSS, acting under its powers”, the statement said.

  • DSS denies making attempts to rearrest Sowore in courtroom

    …Explains why he (Sowore) was rearrested

    …says co-defendant, Olawale Bakare not rearrested

    The Department of State Services has rebutted what it called “serial misinformation” about what transpired in the courtroom of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on Friday, with the agency categorically denying that its men tried to arrest Saharareporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore inside the court.

    In a long statement by the spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya, the agency said its men were not in the courtroom and that the pandemonium about the imaginary arrest inside the court, was orchestrated by the Sowore crowd, with the intent to bring the agency into disrepute, both locally and internationally.

    The statement hinted that Sowore’s re-arrest on Friday was over a fresh statement he made to some people after his release on 5 December at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja to the effect that he intends to “create anarchy in the country”.

    Afunanya also stated that the Service did not re-arrest the student from Osun State, Olawale Bakare, because it no longer has interest in him.

    Here is the full statement:

    DSS AND THE 6TH DECEMBER, 2019 FEDERAL HIGH COURT, ABUJA INCIDENT

    It has become important that the Department of State Services responds to the serial misinformation being circulated in the media about its involvement in the incident that occurred on 6th December, 2019 at the Federal High Court, Abuja. It is instructive to note that during the court proceeding of the day under reference, Defence Counsel, Femi FALANA (SAN), called the attention of the Judge to a suspicion that the Service was planning to re-arrest Omoyele SOWORE immediately after the court session. The Court discountenanced his alarm and asserted that the Service was law abiding and would not engage in such and subsequently adjourned to February, 2020.

    However, when SOWORE stepped out of the court and sighted operatives of the Service within the premises, he ran back into the courtroom. In a bid to shield him from an imaginary arrest, his uncontrollable supporters mobbed him while chanting “you can’t arrest him” thus the pandemonium that ensued.

    A critical look at the videos in circulation would convince any objective viewer that there was no DSS personnel during the entire period the Sowore crowd acted out its orchestrated drama. Its personnel were never, at any time, involved in the incident. In actual fact, it was his people who seized him. And from the latest developments, it has become obvious what the intent for such mischief was meant for – simply to serve a propagandist purpose as well as bring the Service to disrepute.

    Eye witness and several media accounts have disclosed that the Court had adjourned peacefully without an untoward incident when suddenly the unruly crowd imported into the Courtroom went into frenzy on the mere suspicion that DSS was sighted at the court premises. The eventual re-arrest of Sowore by the DSS was effected outside the courtroom. His lead counsel has affirmed this.

    A critical look at the videos in circulation would convince any objective viewer that there was no DSS personnel during the entire period the Sowore crowd acted out its orchestrated drama. Its personnel were never, at any time, involved in the incident. In actual fact, it was his people who seized him. And from the latest developments, it has become obvious what the intent for such mischief was meant for – simply to serve a propagandist purpose as well as bring the Service to disrepute.

    The DSS, as a professional, responsible and law abiding Organisation, could not have invaded a courtroom including the one presided over by a respected Judge who is not only handling its case but whose Order was unconditionally obeyed within a 24 hour ultimatum. The Service holds the judiciary in utmost respect and will continue to work with it for national peace and public safety in Nigeria.

    It has therefore become unarguable and raises a moral question as to who, between Sowore and the Service, dislikes or disobeys the Courts. In this regard, public attention may be drawn to the 25th July 2019 statement of SOWORE that “I’m not talking of protest. I’m embarking on revolution… Don’t tell me about legal implications or what a Judge will say. I don’t care …” On 5th December when SOWORE was released, he had, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja addressed a group of persons who, he reassured of his cause to create anarchy in the country.

    It may be recalled that the Service had on 3rd December, 2019 raised alarm about a plot to destabilize the country. It is quite remarkable that the plot has already started playing out. To ensure this objective is further achieved, some persons and groups are scurrying to seize the opportunity of the misleading court incident and the wrong narrative against the DSS to organize an insurrection in the country. They have continued to falsely curry and mobilize international sentiments and attention, through clear misrepresentation of the facts, for their selfish ends.

    The DSS, as a professional, responsible and law abiding Organization, could not have invaded a courtroom including the one presided over by a respected Judge who is not only handling its case but whose Order was unconditionally obeyed within a 24 hour ultimatum. The Service holds the judiciary in utmost respect and will continue to work with it for national peace and public safety in Nigeria.

    For emphasis, it should be noted that SOWORE is facing trial not as an activist, journalist or a politician, but for his resort to call for violence, forceful takeover of government and suspected transnational illegal activities. It is most unfortunate that SOWORE, shortly after being released from custody, based on court order, resorted to acts inimical to security. To this effect, only SOWORE has been re-arrested as his co-defendant, Olawale BAKARE, was not picked up even when FALANA had promised to deliver him to the Service that is not presently interested in him.

    Though sections of the populace have been fed with spurious narratives about these developments, Nigerians and the International Community should not be gullible or even vulnerable to the machinations of groups desirous of misleading them.

    The Service is committed to the discharge of its mandate of detecting and preventing threats against the internal security of Nigeria. It supports democracy in the country and will do all that is legal to protect it. It will also ensure that efforts of anti-democratic forces are frustrated.

     

     

  • Presidency accuses Sowore of stage-managing rearrest in Court

    The social media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lauretta Onochie has described the attempted arrest of RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore inside the courtroom by the Department of State Service on Friday as a stage-managed drama.

    The presidential aide accused Sowore of acting up the drama of being arrested inside the courtroom with his followers in order to blackmail government agents and attract sympathy from members of the public.

    Onochie made this allegation in a post on her Facebook page on Saturday, insisting that the DSS never entered inside the courtroom.

    She said “blackmailing government enforcement agencies was how our nation went into decay. It wont work this time”.

    She narrated what she claimed was a friend’s eyewitness account of what really transpired in court on Friday.

    See her post below:

    WHO DRAMA EPP? EVERY LIE WILL EXPIRE.
    COURTROOM DRAMA EXPLAINED.

    ? So it was a stage managed drama in the court yesterday; Sowore pinned down by his supporters in a courtroom in order to give DSS a bad name.

    ? There was no gun. No batton. No pinning down. Just plain drama, planned and staged by his boys and girls. Kudos, but every lie has an expiration date.

    ? Many EYEWITNESSES have said DSS was OUTSIDE the courtroom, not inside the courtroom.

    ? Here’s one more eyewitness account as reported by Adeniyi Adegbomire SAN-

    ? A friend of mine, Wale Fapohunda, who was in court today when Sowore’s re-arrest was purportedly effected inside the courtroom has this to say about the incident ??:

    ? “Okay, so I was in court today and here is what happened.

    ? The court had adjourned his matter till 11th Feb next year.

    ? The court called the next matter and proceeding had commenced in respect of the next matter.

    ? Sowore stepped OUT OF THE COURT ROOM and suddenly we heard noises coming from the corridor “leave me alone” “they want to kill me” “they want to kill Sowore” and all that.

    ? Suddenly Sowore’s people started dragging him with the DSS and they (Sowores team) dragged him into the court room.

    ? The judge seeing this, rose and went to her chambers.

    ? The DSS didn’t enter the court room to arrest him rather his supporters dragged him in with the DSS official.

    ? Nobody chased the judge out, she rose and went to her chambers on seeing squabbles.

    ? The DSS official left the court room and waited for him outside the court.

    ? Thank you all. Behold my eye witness account”.

    ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
    ? Blackmailing government enforcement agencies was how our nation went into decay. It wont work this time. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.

    ? It appears everyone in that drama was part of the drama club. They harassed a Court officer who wanted them out as they were disrupting another court case. A Lawyer who looked bemused with the whole drama was lost for words.

    ? Drama has not helped Dino Melaye. It has not helped Olise Metuh. Drama has not helped Orji Uzo Kalu.

    ? Drama will not help Sowore because Once you dramatise a lie to the members of the public to attract sympathy, you lose all of that sympathy when they find out you have misled them.

    ? I’m also of the opinion that the police look into these videos, (I have watched four) and charge those who deliberately misled the general public on this issue.

    ? God bless Nigeria.
    Lauretta Onochie.
    @Laurestar.

  • Sowore: NBA rebukes DSS, demands immediate suspension of DG

    The Nigerian Bar Association has issued a strong rebuke of the Department of State Services, calling its arrest of Omoyele Sowore in Abuja Court as assault and desecration of the court.

    National publicity Kunle Edun also called on Nigerians to defend the rule of law:

    Please read the full statement:

    The Nigerian Bar Association is greatly dismayed at the exhibition of primitivity, thuggery, insane passion for lawlessness, contempt and disrespect for the rule of law by the agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) within the precints of the Federal High Court, Abuja while attempting to re-arrest Citizens Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare earlier today.

    Eventually Sowore and Bakare were re-arrested by the DSS inspite of being on bail granted by the Federal High Court.

    Yusuf Magaji Bichi, DG DSS: Agency holding Sowore, Bakare despite court order

    The NBA has been properly briefed – beyond the shameful videos of the incident in public domain- by our members who witnessed the disgraceful and crass violation of the hallowed precincts of the law by the officers of the Department of State Services, an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    The NBA finds it disgraceful that this ‘court riot’ occasioned by the high handedness and insensitivity of the security operatives interrupted judicial proceedings and made the Presiding Judge to abandon judicial proceedings because of safety concerns.

    The Nigerian Bar Association strongly condemns the action of the Department of State Security, which is another in the series of impunity and lawlessness exhibited by the DSS.

    The invasion of the court by the agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria runs contrary to the avowed assurances of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that he will ensure that the Federal Government and agencies under it obeys court orders. The disrespect of the court by the DSS is legendary and unrivalled.

    Few days ago, the officers of the Nigerian Police Force exhibited similar traits when it also invaded the precincts of the High Court, Effurun to arrest Mr. Ademi-Akpeto, Chairman of Sapele branch of the NBA. Many Nigerians are still in unlawful custody and not charged to court. Nigerians are now under siege by security agents who have no regards for the law and the courts.

    The NBA urges all Nigerians to be alive to their responsibilities as citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is ready to partner with all Nigerians and civil society organisations to ensure that the rights of Nigerians as guaranteed by Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended are not trampled upon by by any agency of government.

    The NBA therefore, demands as follows:
    1. That the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly immediately investigate the shameful conduct by the DSS and ensure that all persons found culpable are duly punished in accordance with the law.

    2. The immediate suspension of the Director General of the Department of State Security from office. We make this demand bearing in mind the fact that the DSS under his leadership has established itself as a brutish and irresponsible agency that derives immense pleasure from violating the fundamental rights of Nigerians and disrespecting court orders.

    3. That the National Assembly should review the laws setting up the DSS and indeed all security agencies in Nigeria with a view to repositioning them to be more responsible and responsive to the public.

    4. That the Attorney General of the Federation, being the Chief Law officer of the Federation takes over all the political cases or cases involving politically exposed persons presently handled by the DSS.

    The above demands of the NBA is without prejudice to the consultations presently going on amongst critical stakeholders in the legal profession and the judiciary on how best to ensure that this sad incident does not re-occur.

    NBA thanks all lawyers and Nigerians who have expressed displeasure over this sad incident. NBA shall keep lawyers and Nigerians alike informed of our further engagements with critical stakeholders.

  • Atiku reacts to Sowore’s rearrest, says Nigeria under tyranny

    Former Nigeria vice president Atiku Abubakar on Friday the invasion of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to arrest Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore was a violation of democratic norms.

    “Nigeria is not a dictatorship,” Atiku tweeted.

    “We are a democracy, no matter how inconvenient this fact is to the powers that have forced themselves on us.”

    “To keep Nigeria a democracy is the paramount duty of all concerned stakeholders. Please speak up against this tyranny and side with the Nigerian people.”

    Similarly, the former Vice President also released another statement in which he insisted that Friday’s invasion of a courtroom at the Federal High Court, Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS), was a rape on the sanctity of the court.

    In the statement distributed to newsmen, which he personally signed, Atiku said never in the history of Nigerian democracy has a judge been treated in such a disdainful and brazen attack on not just her person and office, but on the entire judiciary.

    The statement reads: “Today, I am in extreme anguish of spirit having watched the unfortunate drama that played itself out at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in which agents of the state not only caused a commotion in court in order to frustrate a judgment of a court of competent authority.

    “This is unacceptable. It is a rape on the sanctity of the court. Nigeria is not a dictatorship. We are a democracy, no matter how inconvenient this fact is to the powers that have forced themselves on us”.

    Atiku called for investigation into the invasion with a view to identifying those responsible for the maltreatment meted out to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu and the desecration of her court, and indeed the Nigerian judiciary.

    “They must be sanctioned to the highest extent permissible by our laws”, Atiku said and called on law enforcement agencies in country to immediately respect not just the court order made by Justice Ojukwu, but the order of any court in Nigeria, on other detainees like Sambo Dasuki, Ibrahim Zakzaky, among others.

    “We cannot have a situation where our government is quick to obey foreign court orders and even quicker to disobey domestic court orders. This is symptomatic of a mindset that is servile to foreign powers and brutal to Nigerians.

    “Without the rule of law, there can be no rule at all. Power in Nigeria still flows from the people, not from the barrel of a gun. I call on all men and women of goodwill not to keep quiet or sit on the fence at times like this.

    “To keep Nigeria a democracy is the paramount duty of all concerned stakeholders. Please speak up against this tyranny and side with the Nigerian people”, he added. scribing the invasion as a desecration of the court and the entire judiciary.

    which he personally signed, Atiku said never in the history of Nigerian democracy has a judge been treated in such a disdainful and brazen attack on not just her person and office, but on the entire judiciary.

    The statement said, “Today, I am in extreme anguish of spirit having watched the unfortunate drama that played itself out at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, in which agents of the state not only caused a commotion in court in order to frustrate a judgment of a court of competent authority.

    “This is unacceptable. It is a rape on the sanctity of the court. Nigeria is not a dictatorship. We are a democracy, no matter how inconvenient this fact is to the powers that have forced themselves on us”.

    Atiku called for investigation into the invasion with a view to identifying those responsible for the maltreatment meted out to Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu and the desecration of her court, and indeed the Nigerian judiciary.

    “They must be sanctioned to the highest extent permissible by our laws”, Atiku said and called on law enforcement agencies in country to immediately respect not just the court order made by Justice Ojukwu, but the order of any court in Nigeria, on other detainees like Sambo Dasuki, Ibrahim Zakzaky, among others.

    “We cannot have a situation where our government is quick to obey foreign court orders and even quicker to disobey domestic court orders. This is symptomatic of a mindset that is servile to foreign powers and brutal to Nigerians.

    “Without the rule of law, there can be no rule at all. Power in Nigeria still flows from the people, not from the barrel of a gun. I call on all men and women of goodwill not to keep quiet or sit on the fence at times like this.

    “To keep Nigeria a democracy is the paramount duty of all concerned stakeholders. Please speak up against this tyranny and side with the Nigerian people”, he added.

    Operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS) on Friday re-arrested Sowore barely 24hours after his release.

    Sowore was released on Thursday night after the court gave Nigeria’s secret police a 24-hour ultimatum to release him.

    The court also awarded N100,000 against the prosecution for failing to comply with court orders requesting the release of Sowore and for not serving the defence counsel with necessary documents early enough.

    At the resumed hearing on Friday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu after court proceedings adjourned the case till February 11 and 12 and 13, 2020 for definite hearing.

    But as everyone filed out of the courtroom, no fewer than 15 armed officers of the DSS, who had laid an ambush for the defendants, made their way towards Sowore and his co-defendant Bakare.

    There was a stampede as the officers cocked their guns scaring people away.

    Sowore and Bakare, however, resisted being rearrested, running back into the courtroom.

  • Sowore: DSS invasion of court room to make arrest has never happened in Nigeria before – Falana

    Sowore: DSS invasion of court room to make arrest has never happened in Nigeria before – Falana

    Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and lawyer has narrated the build-up to Sowore and Bakare’s rearrest by the DSS at a Federal High Court in Abuja, barely 24 hours after their release from DSS custody.

    Falana who is the lawyer to activists, Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare said: “This morning, the SSS lawyers and the lawyers of the Attorney-General reported to the court that the order of the court had been complied with and I confirmed because our clients were released last night.

    “As soon as the court adjourned the matter till February next year, the SSS operatives pounced on the court, disrupted proceeding and then attempted to arrest our clients even in the web of the court, that was extremely embarrassing because it has never happened in Nigeria where you enter a court to arrest anybody, even an alleged coup plotter.

    “The atmosphere was very rowdy, but I insisted that the arrest could not be carried out within the precinct of the court.

    “He was going to be arrested outside the premises but there was a crowd that resisted the arrest, but I appealed to everybody and asked Sowore to jump into my car and so we drove to the office of the SSS because they said he will just answer a few questions, but now he is being detained.

    “We are going to take steps under the law by asking for his release again since they are claiming this is a fresh arrest.

    “Nobody has disclosed yet what his charges are; he couldn’t have committed any other offence because he has been detained for the past four months unless the SSS wants to tell the whole world that he committed this fresh offence while in their custody,” he stressed.

    Mr. Sowore and Mr Bakare who were released at about 7:15 pm on Thursday are facing seven counts bordering on conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, money laundering and cybercrimes, amongst others.

    They were arrested on August 3, days before a planned #RevolutionNow protest against “bad governance” in the country.

  • Drama as DSS finally rearrest Sowore, Bakare after 1hr battle

     

    The operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) after about what seemed to be a strong resistance for about an hour finally whisked Sowore and Bakare to their headquarters in Abuja.

    Sowore was taken away at the gate of the headquarters of the Federal High Court at about 10.46am after he was brought down from the court by his lawyer, Femi Falana SAN.

    Sowore and Bakare were driven along with their lawyer Femi Falana SAN, in Falana’s car which was driven by a DSS operative.

    The DSS had swooped on Sowore and Bakare few yards from court 7, where Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu was presiding.

    Their attempt was initially resisted by Sowore’s supporters and police officers attached to the court who insisted that Sowore and Bakare cannot be arrested inside the court.

    However, it took the intervention of the defendants lawyer, Falana, before he could be taken away.

  • [Trending video] Sowore in physical battle with DSS to resist arrest in court

    [Trending video] Sowore in physical battle with DSS to resist arrest in court

    …whisked away after 1hr struggle

    Omoyele Sowore, Convener, #RevolutionNow protest, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare were rearrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) on Friday.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports operatives of the DSS battled Court police Sowore and Bakare supporters before whisking them away, the event of which was caught on camera.

    See attached video below:

    The DSS rearrested and detained Sowore and Bakare on Friday, hours after they were released on bail on Thursday evening.

    There was mild drama as caught on camera at the court 7, Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, when the armed operatives of the DSS moved to rearrest the two men at the court premises.

    The drama stared shortly after Justice Ijoema Ojukwu adjourned the trial continuation till Feb. 11, 12 and 13 for definite hearing.

    Justice Ojukwu had, on Thursday, ordered the DSS to release Sowore and Bakare within 24 hours.

    Ojukwu, who gave the order, also awarded a N100, 000 fine against the DSS over its delay to serve the defence counsel with the additional proof of evidence in the ongoing trial despite the court’s order to the effect.

    The DSS had, on Thursday, complied with the court order by releasing the defendants and also paid the fine.

    At the Friday’s sitting, the DSS Lawyer, Hassan Listen, SAN, told the court that the security agency had already complied with the order of the court.

    He also hinted that based on the agreement between the parties, the matter adjourned till Feb. 11, 12 and 13 to enable the parties respond to applications filed.

    Also, speaking, Counsel to the defendants, Femi Falana, SAN, confirmed that his clients were released to him on Thursday evening.

    “My Lord, at about 5 o clock yesterday, I received a call from my respected colleague to send our lawyers to receive our clients.

    “I am happy to tell you that our clients were released and the N100, 000 cost was also paid.

    “On account of this, on behalf of our defendants, we wish to express our profound appreciation for your leadership and for standing up for integrity and for standing for the rule of law in Nigeria.

    “I also thank my colleague for impressing it on their client to obey the court order.

    “I hope my learned friend will allow the defendants to get their freedom notwithstanding the charges,” he told the court.

    Justice Ojukwu, who commended the DSS for obeying the Court order, said everyone must be ready to allow the law to take its course irrespective of position one held.

    “It is obvious that the DSS has demonstrated their commitment to rule of law.

    “No one is above the law,” adding that those at realms of power must respect the rule of law.

    “The DSS has earned the respect of Nigerians for this,” the judge said.

    She then adjourned till Feb. 11, 12 and 13 for definite hearing.

    The court registrar then called the next case for hearing and as everyone began to move out of the court premises before some officers of the DSS, numbering about 15, who had laid ambush for the defendants, started making their way towards Sowore and Bakare.

    There was a stampede as the officers cocked their guns scaring people away.

    Sowore and Bakare, however resisted being rearrested. They ran back into the court premises as the action resulted in a commotion.

    Justice Ojukwu quickly retired into her chamber.