FG, DSS angry over leakage of officials’ secret visit to Sowore – Report
It was gathered that the Federal Government and the DSS were jolted when the news of government officials’ visit to Sowore at the secret service detention was leaked to the media. In an exclusive report by the Punch Newspaper, Sources close to the government said the Presidency had thought that the visit would remain a secret and that it would use it to secure the confidence of the detained activist before getting him out of custody. Those who took part in the botched negotiation included a close political associate of the President, Isa Funtua; Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka;
Sowore’s supporters were only acting an orchestrated drama – DSS
Says we didn't arrest him in court The Department of State Services (DSS) says its officers did not arrest Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, in court, claiming that the journalist’s supporters were only acting an “orchestrated drama”. A statement signed by Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, the state secret police, said there were none of its officers involved in the incidents recorded in the courtroom. “It has become important that the Department of State Services responds to the serial misinformation being circulated in the media about its involvement in the incident that occurred on 6th December, 2019 at the Federal
US to review relationship with Nigeria over Sowore
United States (US) Senator Robert Menendez has said America will review its relationship with Nigeria over the continued detention and rearrest of Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore. “We are watching and will be reviewing our relationship with the Nigeria government,” Menendez said at a press conference jointly addressed by Sowore’s wife Opeyemi in the US. Menendez, a Democratic senator representing New Jersey, warned the Nigerian government that “(for) any harms that come to Sowore, there will be consequences.” Operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS) on Friday re-arrested Sowore barely 24hours after his release. Sowore was released on Thursday
Sowore is not a terrorist, he’s my constituent, Senator Tofowomo tackles DSS on re-arrest saga
describes court invasion as gross transgression on constitutionalism Change your approach to remove your reproach, he tells DSS Demands release of Sowore, Bakare forthwith Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, representing Ondo South at the National Assembly, has described the re-arrest of Omoyele Sowore and Adebayo Bakare by men of the Department of State Services inside the courtroom on Friday where Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu was presiding as gross transgression on constitutionalism. Senator Tofowomo who is the senator representing Sowore's local government at the 9th Senate, also said that the manner in which the court and her premises was overrun by men of the DSS
Release Sowore, Bakare within 24 hours, court tells DSS
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday gave the Department of State Service 24 hours ultimatum to release the Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order at the scheduled commencement of the defendants’ trial on charges of treasonable felony. The judge noted after she signed the warrants for the release of the defendants from custody, and same was served on the defendants, the DSS had no justifiable reason to continue to hold them in custody. The prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), had insisted that the DSS had not obeyed the
DSS: Why we are holding Sowore
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Wednesday said #RevolutionNow crusader Omoyele Sowore was still in their custody because the appropriate to take him were yet to turn up. This was contained in a statement released by spokesman Peter Afunanya where the agency insisted it was only appropriate that those who stood as sureties for Sowore have not come for him. The DSS also denied reports that its men shot at protesters who stormed the agency’s Abuja office on Tuesday to demand Sowore’s release. According to Afunanya, operatives maintained professionalism and upheld global security practice in spite of unwarranted provocations.
’Occupy DSS’s Protest’ Begins Tomorrow Over Sowore’s Detention
Some Human Rights’ Groups will on Tuesday (Tomorrow) begin Protest at the headquarters of Department of State Services in Abuja over the agency's refusal to release Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare despite two valid court orders served on them to do so. Starnews reports that the protest tagged: ”OccupyDSS” was organised by a coalition of human rights groups: Concerned Nigerians, Coalition for Revolution and Take it Back Movement Campus Unit. In a statement signed by the trio of Deji Adeyanju, Lanre Legacy and Sanyaolu Juwon, the group said the government should be held responsible if anything happen to Sowore and
Activists protest as DSS fails to release Sowore
Some activists on Saturday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Department of State Services in Abuja, demanding the release of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare. The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had issued the warrants for the release of the duo and the DSS has acknowledged receipt of the warrants. DSS on Thursday, however, said it did not release Sowore and Bakare because there was no lawyer to receive them. This claim has been faulted by human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), on Friday. He stated that the DSS
DSS lied, lawyers waited in vain to receive Sowore, Bakare, says Falana
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Friday, faulted the claim by the Department of State Services authorities that they were still holding the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare, because none of their lawyers was available take their delivery from custody since Thursday. The DSS acknowledged the receipt of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court’s warrants for the release of the two men issued by the two defendants served on its headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, but that it did not release Sowore and Bakare because there was no lawyer to receive
Nobody Has Come For Sowore-DSS
The Department of State Services (DSS) says it has received a court order releasing the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr Omoyele Sowore. The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, confirmed this in a statement forwarded to Channels Television on Friday. He, however, said nobody has turned up at the Service’s office to take delivery of Sowore, adding that the decision to make the situation was important for the sake of accountability. The DSS spokesman noted that the court has been properly briefed the development and the steps being taken by the Service to comply with its order.
