Tobias Sylvester
The Federal Government is reportedly planning to drag Justice Taiwo Taiwo to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for granting bail to the convener of RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.
KanyiDaily had reported that Justice Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted Sowore bail on Tuesday and dismissed an application by the Department of State Security (DSS) to extend the activist’ stay detention.
Despite fulfilling his bail conditions as set by Justice Taiwo, Sowore has remained in DSS detention for more than 48 hours, causing outrage among that the security agency is breaching the rule of law.
In a “notice of disobedience to order of court” issued by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday, September 26, 2019, Justice Taiwo directed the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, to release Sowore by complying with its directive or face grave consequences, which includes “commitment to prison”.
According to a fresh report By The Nation, Nigerian security and intelligence community met on the matter yesterday and resolved to appeal the judgement. It also decided to petition the NJC on the issue.
A top government source was also quoted as saying that anyone standing trial for treasonable felony is not entitled to bail. He said:
”Sowore’s bail is likely to bring trouble for that judge. A report has been prepared to report him to NJC in view of the fact that, as far as this country, it is known that a person charged treasonable felony has no bail option.
So, the security and intelligence community in the country is shocked by the judgement. And there is a consensus that the judgement should not only be appealed, but that the NJC should be petitioned about the conduct and abuse of power by the judge.”
Sowore was arrested and kept in the custody of the DSS since 3rd of August, 2019, for allegedly calling for “revolution” through the group’s protest fixed for 5th of September 2019.
