DSS was not authorized to verify Sowore’s sureties

Femi Falana, the lead counsel of #RevolutionNow Convener Omoyele Sowore, has declared that the Department of State Services (DSS) was not authorized to verify the online publisher’s sureties.

The Herald gathered that Sowore has been in detention since August 3 when he was arrested on the eve of his planned nationwide protest.

A federal high court in Abuja granted him bail, but the DSS has refused to release him. The secret police said it would not release him until the identities of those who stood as sureties for him are verified.

Falana in a statement said: “Pursuant to the verification of the sureties of Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare by the Federal High Court, the trial judge, the Honourable Justice Ifeoma Ojukwu made an order on November 6, 2019 for the release of the defendants from the custody of the DSS.

“The Court Order has not authorised the DSS to approve the sureties before releasing Sowore and Bakare from custody.”

Below is the court order:

Meanwhile, The Herald reported that DSS on Tuesday insisted that Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the planned RevolutionNow protest would only be released upon proper documentation of persons willing to bail him.

Dr Peter Afunanya, the Public Relations Officer of the Service disclosed this at a media conference in Abuja.

He said the service was prepared to release Sowore in line with the bail granted him by the court but waiting for persons to take his delivery through proper documentation.