Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, has visted the headquarters of the Department of State Serve in Abuja on Wednesday to secure the release of the release of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, from the custody of the Department of State Service.
Falana visited the DSS office after Sowore complied with the Tuesday’s order of the Federal High Court in Abuja which directed him to deposit his passport at the court’s registry as condition for his release from the custody of the security agency.
“I am currently at their headquarters. Having complied with the condition given by the court, I am here for Sowore’s release,” Falana told Punch correspondent on the telephone at about 4pm on Wednesday.
An “affidavit of compliance with court order” deposed to by a lawyer in Falana’s law firm, Mr. Marshal Abubakar was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja as confirmation of the submission of Sowore’s to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
It read in part, “That on September 24, 2019, this honourable court per Hon. Justice Taiwo Taiwo mandated the applicant/respondent to release the respondent/applicant forthwith.
“That the said order has since been served on the applicant/respondent (DSS). Attached hereto and marked Exhibit 1 is a copy of the endorsement by the applicant/respondent.
“That the court also ordered the respondent/applicant to deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of this honourable court within 48 hours.
“That the respondent/applicant’s international passport with passport number A50255207 has been deposited with the Deputy Chief Registrar of this honourable court.”
A letter titled, ‘Notice of compliance with court order’ was signed by Abubakar and addressed to the office of the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The letter was received Wednesday by the office of the DCR.
It read in part, “In line with the court order we respectfully forward with the instant correspondence, the international passport of Mr. Stephen Omoyele Sowore with passport number A50255207 to your good self.”
Justice Taiwo Taiwo had on Tuesday ordered the release of Sowore, from the custody of the Department of State Service immediately.
The judge said the activist should be released to his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who is to produce him for arraignment whenever he is needed.
Punch
