The bail application wanting the release of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore,has been granted.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered that Mr Omoyele Sowore be released from the custody of the Department of State Service immediately.
The judge who ordered the activist to be released to his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), stated that he would be produced for arraignment whenever he is required.
The judge, however, said since charges had already been filed against the activist, he must deposit his passport and other travel documents to guarantee his availability for trial.
The judge had earlier stood down the case after hearing arguments from legal teams of Sowore and the DSS.
Leading Sowore’s team, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), noted that the order issued by the court on August 8, 2019 permitting the DSS to hold the activist for 45 days, had expired on September 21.
He urged the court to issue a consequential order releasing the publisher of SaharaReporters from custody.
But responding, DSS’ lawyer, G.O Agbadua, said that since the charges had been filed against the activist on September 20, it was lawful to continue to keep until arraignment.
But Falana said, “Filing of charges cannot metamorphose into a detention order.
“A citizen cannot detain a citizen in anticipation of arraignment.”
On the grounds of the expiration of the detention order and the withdrawal of the DSS’ request for further detention of Sowore, Falana urged the court to order his client’s release.
The judge in his ruling agreed with Falana by ordering the immediate release of Sowore from custody.
