Justice Nkeonye Maya of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday declined all applications by the detained convener of #RevolutionNow protests, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, challenging his detention by the Department of State Services (DSS)
It would be recalled that another judge of the court, Justice Taiwo Taiwo had, on August 8, 2019 granted the DSS the permission to detain Sowore for 45 days in the first instance.
The prayer was granted following the security agency’s claim that he allegedly plotted to topple the government President Muhammadu Buhari.
The defendant filed a motion on August 9, 2019 and prayed the court to, among other things, quash the detention order made ex parte.
On Wednesday (today), the case came up before Justice Maha, now sitting as the court’s vacation judge.
The judge who declined all applications by counsel for Sowore, Mr. Femi Falana, sent the case back to Justice Taiwo for further hearing.
Falana, who had asked the court to set aside the ex parte order granted by Justice Taiwo, also applied for bail orally which Justice Maha rejected.
She said she lacked the powers to review the decision made by his colleague.
She contended that doing so would amount to sitting on an appeal over a decision passed by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
The judge asked parties to return to the court that earlier granted the detention order.
