Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja yesterday ordered service of court documents on the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami and the director general of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Yusuf Bichi to appear before it and explain why the arrowhead of #Revolution Now Protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore was still being held.
The court’s documents comprise the ex parte application and other papers filed for Sowore by his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, challenging his continued detention and seeking his release.
The court directed that Malami and Bichi be served with the ex parte motion and other accompanying papers to enable them say why the prayers sought by the applicant should not be granted.
At yesterday’s hearing, Abubakar moved the ex parte application and prayed the court to order his client’s release.
The judge, in his ruling, said he needed to hear from the respondents before taking a decision.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to December 23, 2019 for hearing.
The judge ordered that hearing notices be served on both respondents to enable then attend court on the next adjourned date.
In the motion, Abubakar had prayed the court for an order to produce Sowore for an unconditional release, pursuant to the release order made by the court on November 6, 2019.
The lawyer recalled that the applicant was arrested on August 2, 2019, without a warrant of arrest.
He added that Sowore was further detained from August 2 to 7, without an order of court thereby breaching his fundamental human rights.
Abubakar argued that the respondents failed or refused to obey the orders of Justices Taiwo Taiwo and Ijeoma Ojukwu, both of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who ordered the release of his client on bail.
Sowore is facing trial for an alleged treasonable felony after he organised anti-government protest tagged #RevelutionNow.
After his re-arrest on December 5, no new charges were filed against him despite being questioned by the SSS for alleged links with outlawed groups in Nigeria.
