5th December, 2019
After 125 days in detention, the Department of States Services, DSS, on Thursday released the publisher of Sahara Reporters and Convener, #RevolutionNow Protest, Omoyele Sowore from its detention.
Sowore was released on Thursday evening along with his co-detainee, Adebayo Bakare.
The Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday, ordered the DSS to release Sowore within 24 hours.
Justice Ijeoma 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 of Sowore and Olawale Bakare.
Sowore’s counsel, Femi Falana (SAN), confirmed that Sowore had been released by the DSS around 7.00pm on Thursday.
“They were released about 30 minutes ago. They were released to one of our lawyers,” he was quoted as saying.
Sowore was arrested on August 2, 2019 by the DSS and charged to court by the Nigerian government for planning a nationwide protest, tagged #RevolutionNow.
Justice Ojukwu had Oct. 4, first granted Sowore N50 million bail, with two sureties in like sum, and ordered that a deposit N50 million be made as security.
Later, Justice Ojukwu, softened on Sowore’s bail conditions on 21 October, slashing the deposit required from N50 million to N20 million.
Sowore met his bail conditions on November 6, but the DSS refused to release him, citing some flimsy excuses to still keep him in detention.
The 24-hour ultimatum issued by Justice Ojukwu was the tonic needed by the DSS to release him from detention.