Sowore and Dasuki

Publisher of Sahara Reporters and convener of the RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore has been released after his second arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS). Also released is erstwhile National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki who has been in detention since July, 2015.

Sowore’s release comes the same day (Tuesday) that Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) gave a statement about how he had issued a directive to the DSS to release the publisher and a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

Malami in the statement explained how his office had reviewed the charges against the two persons. The statement read:

“The Office of the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation has reviewed the pending criminal charges against the duo of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and Omoyele Sowore.

“Whilst the Federal High Court has exercised its discretion in granting bail to the Defendants in respect of the charges against them, I am also not unmindful of the right of the Complainant/Prosecution to appeal or further challenge the grant of bail by the court having regards to extant legal provisions, particularly Section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

“However, my Office has chosen to comply with the court orders while considering the pursuit of its rights of appeal and/or review of the order relating to the bail as granted or varied by the courts.

“In line with the provisions of Section 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and in compliance with the bail granted to Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) (as recently varied by the Court of Appeal) and the bail granted to Omoyele Sowore, I have directed the State Security Services to comply with the order granting bail to the Defendants and effect their release.

“The two Defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial, which will run its course in accordance with the laws of the land.”

Omoyele Sowore was rearrested at the Federal High Court in Abuja by operatives of the DSS on December 6, barely 24 hours after his release from a four-month-long detention.