A Division of the federal high court presided over by Justice Iyang Ekwo Tuesday, ordered that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Director-General of the State Security Sevice(SSS), Lawal Bichi, to appear before it on December 23.
In a short ruling, Ekwo gave the verdict that the duo must appear before him.
The arrest and detention of the convener of #RevolutionNow and activist, Omoyele Sowore after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered his release has generated fuss over the weeks.
Subsequently, Sowore filed a suit before the court against the AGF and SSS over his arrest and continued detention.
In the charge sheet made available to newsmen, Sowore is asking the court to order the SSS to pay him N500 million as damages for his detention and violation of fundamental rights.
Sowore in his suit dated November 20, wants, among others, “A declaration that the detention of the applicant from November 7, 2019, till date in violation of the order for his release made on November 6, 2019, is illegal as it violates his fundamental right to liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 6 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“An order of this court compelling the respondents to pay to the applicant the sum of N500,000, 000, 00 ( Five hundred million naira) as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to life, dignity of his person, fair hearing, health, freedom of movement and freedom of association.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating the applicant’s fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and however without lawful justification.”
But at the Tuesday hearings, Sowore’s lawyer, Abubakar Marshal had sought to move the court to order for the release of the activist, who was re-arrested on December 6 in the federal high court during a court proceeding.
Before adjoining to December 23 for hearing, Justice Ekwo noted that he has seen all the court processes filed, mandating the Deputy Court Registrar (DCR) to notify the AGF and SSS DG of Tuesday’s proceedings and order.
Sowore was arrested in August for planning a nationwide protest he labelled ‘RevolutionNow’. The Buhari administration said the planned demonstration was a treasonable act because it was aimed at causing a regime change.
