14th December, 2019
The Department of State Services has interrogated the detained publisher of Saharareporters, Omoyele Sowore, over alleged links with Boko Haram, Indigenous People of Biafra and Islamic Movement of Nigeria.
His lawyer, Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement, amidst reports that the Attorney-general and Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami had asked for Sowore’s case file.
Falana said the interrogation on Thursday lasted four hours and was witnessed by Abubakar Marshal, one of Sowore’s lawyers.
Falana suspected that the DSS, which he called by its old name of SSS, possibly wanted to charge Sowore with terrorism.
Falana wrote:
“Convinced that the pending case would collapse like a pack of cards the SSS is currently fishing for evidence to nail Sowore. In spite of the directive of the AGF to take over the case the SSS subjected Sowore to a 4-hour interrogation yesterday (12/12/19).
“The entire interrogation pertained to Sowore’s alleged links with the proscribed Boko Haram sect, IPOB and IMN which he vehemently denied. At Sowore’s instance a member of the legal defence team, Mr. Abubakar Marshal witnessed the marathon interrogation. The plan of the SSS is to charge Sowore with terrorism in line with the unsubstituted allegations of presidential media aides.
“It is not a take over because it was the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, that filed the Sowore’s case and farmed it out to Dr. Hassan Liman SAN. But in view of the violent invasion of the court by armed operatives of the SSS the AGF has decided to sack the prosecution team and have the case prosecuted by the DPP.
Having been advised that Sowore cannot be convicted on the basis of the proof of evidence filed in court the SSS has refused to make the statements of the prosecution witness available to the defendants as ordered by the trial court. Hence, hearing in the case has been adjourned till February 20, 2020 at the instance of the Prosecution.
“In view of the foregoing we urge the AGF to file a nolle prosequi motion without any further delay to end the macabre dance which has exposed the country to avoidable embarrassment”.