Court Summons AGF, DSS DG over Sowore”s continued detention…to appear in court Dec 23

By Yemi Oyeyemi, Abuja
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Tuesday summoned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN to appear before him over the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore.
Also ordered to appear alongside the AGF is the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.
They are to appear before the court to show cause on why Sowore should not be released on bail, pending when they would file a charge against him, if any.
The order was made sequel to an application by Sowore challenging his rearrest and continued detention by the DSS.
Sowore was rearrested on December 6, within the premises of the Federal High Court Abuja, barely few hours of coming out of a four months custody at the DSS.
However, Sowore in an ex-parte application dated December 15 and filed by his lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, is challenging his continued detention by the federal government.
However, when the matter was called on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo noted that he has seen all processes filed by the applicant and adjourned the case to December 23, 2019 for hearing.
The judge in addition ordered service of both men with the court processes and order on the respondents.
Sowore and one Olawale Bakare are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, money laundering amongst others.
They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N100m and N30m respectively.
The DSS refused to release them on bail even after the met their bail application, forcing Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu to issue a 24 hours order for their release.
However, Sowore was rearrested on December 6, shortly after he was released on bail by the DSS over a yet to be disclosed offence.
In a three-paragraph further affidavit in support of the motion exparte, the applicant prayed the court for an order for the production of the applicant for an unconditional release, pursuant to the release order made by the court on November 6.
The application was predicated on the grounds that the applicant was arrested on August 2 without a warrant of arrest and was further detained from August 2 to 7, without an order of court thereby breaching his fundamental human rights.
The plaintiff further claimed that the respondents have failed or refused to obey the orders of Justices Taiwo Taiwo and Ijeoma Ojukwu both of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered his release on bail.