The trial of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Mr. Olawale Bakare for alleged treason resumes on Wednesday, February 12 before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Hearing in the matter was slated for today but the absence of the presiding judge put paid to the trial.
It was gathered that Justice Ojukwu was sitting outside the court’s division.
Sowore and Bakare are charged with treasonable felony for organising the aborted Revolution Now protest on August 5, 2019, which the government saw as an attempt to disrupt peace in the country.
They were, on December 24, 2019, released from the Department of State Services (DSS)’s custody.
Prior to that, Justice Inyang Ekwo had, on December 17, 2019, fixed December 23, 2019, to hear from the DSS and the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice why Sowore should not be released from custody.
Sowore, through his lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, had filed a motion ex parte before Justice Ekwo to demand for his unconditional release from the DSS detention in pursuance of the release order made by Justice Ojukwu on November 6, 2019.
However, the matter could not be heard and it was later reassigned to Justice Ahmed Mohammed.
On December 23, 2019, Justice Mohammed excused himself from the suit brought by Sowore before him.
Mohammed, who made his intention known to parties at the mention of the motion ex parte in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1409/19, said his decision was due to a publication of bribery allegation against him by Sahara Reporters owned by Sowore.
The operatives of the DSS rearrested Sowore shortly after a court proceeding on December 6, 2019 barely 24 hours after releasing him and his co-defendant, Bakare, from custody.
Justice Ojukwu had fixed February 11 as next adjourned date.
However, the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami had also, on December 13, 2019, announced his takeover of the prosecution of Sowore in the charge of treasonable felony levied against him.
The development came as a result of the criticism their re-arrest had generated.
