Explain Sowore’s continuous detention, Court orders AGF, DSS

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Director General of the Department of State Services, Yusuf Bichi and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to explain why Omoyele Sowore is still being detained after he was granted bail by the court.

The court made the order in a ruling on an exparte application filed on Sowore’s behalf by his lawyer, Mr. Marshal Abubakar.

Abubakar had, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/407/2018, urged the court to order the DSS boss and the AGF to produce Sowore in court “for an unconditional release” from custody, based on the bail already granted him by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.

The DSS and the AGF arraigned Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, on charges of treasonable felony, before Justice ijeoma Ojukwu.

But in his ruling on the application moved by Abubakar yesterday, Justice Ekwo said he needed to hear from the two defendants before taking a decision.

He then adjourned the case till December 23 and directed the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court to serve hearing notices on the two defendants.

Sowore was re-arrested violently by the operatives of the DSS at the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 6, barely 24 hours after he was released from custody that lasted over four months.

He has since been held in custody with no fresh charges instituted against him.

His lead counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), had earlier in a statement on Tuesday, urged the AGF, who said he had taken over the prosecution of the defendants from the DSS, to direct the agency to immediately release the Sowore.