JUDGE THREATENS TO JAIL STATE SECURITY SERVICE DIRECTOR GENERAL OVER REFUSAL TO RELEASE SOWORE, BAKARE
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday indicated readiness to jail the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bich, following the failure of the agency to release the detained Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-accused, Olawale Bakare.i.
Penpushing reports that, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu handed over the threat, while it is recalled that, earlier this month, the judge in a court order dated November 12, has ordered the security service to release, and contrary to that, the Director General would be guilty of contempt and liable to be committed to prison.
“Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the Federal High Court of Justice, Abuja made on the 6 November 2019, which ordered you to release the Defendants/Applicants in Suit No; FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019 forthwith, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison. A copy of the said order of court earlier served on you is hereby annexed for your on-the spot reference’.
“This court has been informed that even as at today, Tuesday the 12 November 2019 you are yet to comply with the lawful order of the Federal High Court by refusing to release the Defendants/Applicants namely: Omoyele Stephen Sowore and Olawale Adebayo Bakare (MANDATE), in your custody. You are hereby directed to comply with the court order forthwith or you will be guilty of contempt of court,” the document read.
Penpushing further reports that, Sowore, who was arrested on August 3 by SSS for planning a protest popularised with the hashtag #RevolutionNow, was granted bail for the second time on October 18,while the on October 21, the Federal High Court had ordered the immediate release of Messrs Sowore and Bakare from prison.
The two accused are facing trial on seven counts of treasonable felony, fraud, cyber-stalking and insulting President Muhammadu Buhari, and a previous bail granted the defendant on September 24 was not complied with by the State Security Service (SSS).
Meanwhile, aside from the court’s threat to imprison the agency boss, Sowore has also filed a suit against the agency asking the court to order the agency to pay him N500 million as damages for his detention and violation of fundamental rights.
