Order DSS to release Sowore, NGO tells Buhari, AG

A non-governmental Organisation, Centre for Law and Civil Culture, has called on President Muhammad Buhari, to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), to ensure that the release of Omoyele Sowore, from the Department of State Security (DSS) custody.

The organisation made the call in a statement which was jointly signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr Abdulganeey Imran and Deborah Okpanachi, it’s Legal  Adviser, adding that “the continued detention of Sowore by the DSS having perfected and fulfilled his bail condition as directed by the Honourable Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja, can at best, be described as an affront to the judiciary and the rule of law.

“The order/directive of any court stands and must be readily obeyed.  Disobedience to the order of any court cannot be justified under any circumstance.”

“It is imperative to state that section 161 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 gives absolute discretion to Judges to admit any person, depending on the circumstance of the case, to bail, even where capital offence that attracts death penalty is allegedly committed.

“Therefore, Having met and fulfilled the bail conditions as stated by the judge, The DSS has no excuse keeping Omoyele Sowore further in its custody.

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“It is on this basis that CLCC call on president Muhammad Buhari, the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice to ensure the DSS to release Omoyele Sowore with immediate effect,” the statement explained.

The organisation also appealed to the Nigerian Bar  Association (NBA), International Organisations and other civil society groups to uphold judicial independence as the refusal of DSS/Federal government to comply with the directive of the honourable court to release Omoyele Sowore is a serious threat to the independence of the judiciary and an invitation to anarchy.