The federal high court has struck out the application by the Department of State Services seeking to further detain the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.
This follows the withdrawal of the application by the state counsel.
Mr. Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana, thereafter persuaded the court to order the immediate release of his client as the prosecution is no longer interested to detain him further
Counsel to the DSS however challenged the oral application for release saying that a formal suite have been filed where Mr. Sowore is being accused of treasonable felony which is a capital offence
The prosecutor asked the Court to deny the respondent bail due to the fresh charges filed against him.
Mr Falana urged the court to disregard the submission of the prosecutor. He said the prosecutor can not asked the court to detain a citizen prospectively and in anticipation of the arraignment of the defendant order his detentio.
Falana, Sowore’s counsel told the court that since the detention order has expired and application for renewal has been withdrawn, the court should make a consequential order and release Sowore.
He also said; “If the court wants him, I will produce him (Sowore).”
Falana referred the court to the case of MKO Abiola 1995 vs FG where the appellant was charged with treasonable felony and the court granted him bail even on self recognition.
Falana said he was also charged with treasonable felony and Justice Taiwo Taiwo was the one who defended him and he was granted bail.
At the end, Omoyele Sowore was granted bail.
Mr. Sowore, the publisher of online news platform, Sahara Reporters, was arrested on August 3rd, two days before a rally tagged Revolutionnow for allegedly plotting to overthrow an elected government.
