Court remands Sowore, co-defendant in DSS custody till Friday

Omoyele Sowore
Omoyele Sowore

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, and co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order on Monday pending hearing of their bail applications on Friday.

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Messrs Sowore and Bakare pleaded not guilty to seven counts of treasonable felony and other sundry offences instituted against them by the Federal Government.

They had initially declined to enter their plea.

Defence lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, urged the court to permit Sowore to be allowed to continue with the bail earlier granted him by Justice Taiwo Taiwo on September 24.

But Mr Olumide-Fusika pleaded for fresh bail for Bakare.

The judge, however, said Sowore would have to press for new bail since the one earlier granted him was not predicated on the charges on which he was arraigned on Monday.

She adjourned hearing till Friday, ruling that the defence team has to present a formal written bail application.

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The application is to be served on the lead prosecutor, Hassan Liman, who indicated that he was going to oppose the application.

Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, has been in DSS custody since August 3 for allegedly calling for “revolution” through the protest that was scheduled for August 5.