The Inspector-General of Police and the Director of Department of State Services, (DSS) have been ordered by a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, to appear before it on September 4 over the detention pro-democracy activist and co-convener of #RevolutionNowmovement, Omoyele Sowore.
Following an ex-parte application filed by a Lagos-based lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, Justice Nicholas Oweibo gave the order after his ruling.
Sowore was arrested by operatives of the DSS in Lagos on August 3 over the planned RevolutionNow protest slated for August 5.
He has since been held in DSS detention.
Ogungbeje, also a participant in the #RevolutionNowprotest urged the court to declare as unconstitutional and illegal police clampdown of the protesters and the arrest of Sowore by the DSS.
He therefore urged the court to make an order for the immediate and unconditional release of those arrested and detained.
The petitioner joined federal government, the DSS and the Inspector-General of Police as respondents in the application.
Explaining further, he argued that the arrested persons should be immediately and unconditionally released.
“There has been a grave constitutional infraction committed by the respondents against the applicant and other persons who engaged in the peaceful protest for good governance in Nigeria.
“On August 3, 2019, convener of the protest, Omoyele Sowore was arrested, whisked away and detained in the detention facility of the 2nd respondent (DSS).
Omoyele Sowore has not committed any offence known to law to warrant the infringement and likely infringement of rights by the respondents.
“By engaging in the peaceful protest, the applicant and other persons have not committed any offence known to law to warrant the treatment meted out to them by the respondents and their agents.”
But in his ruling, Justice Oweibo said he needed to hear from the FG, DSS and the IG.
He ordered Ogungbeje to put them on notice and directed that the respondents must appear before him on September 4 to show cause why Sowore and others should not be released immediately.
