Sowore wins as Nigerian govt ends four-year “treason” case

A federal high court in Abuja cleared Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, after the federal government backed off on its claim the journalist committed a treasonable felony.

Judge Emeka Nwite on Monday struck off the more than four-year-old case and ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to release items seized from outspoken former presidential candidate and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare.

The ruling was given after attorney general Lateef Fagbemi discontinued the case instituted by his predecessor Abubakar Malami on behalf of the former Buhari government.

Mr Sowore was first detained in August 2019 after he called for revolution. Prosecutors claimed it was an attempt to overthrow Mr Buhari’s government.

Despite being granted bail, authorities continued to hold him. He and Mr Bakare were later released on bail but barred from leaving the country.

Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that Mr Sowore’s international passport be released to him. He also directed the SSS to immediately release three phones and N10, 000 seized from Mr Sowore, and a phone and N1,500 belonging to Mr Bakare, taken from them during their arrests.

“Useless Case”

The duo was first arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in 2019 before the matter was reassigned to Justice Nwite after Mrs Ojukwu was transferred.

Mr Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana, commended the attorney general for ending the case.

“I wish to appreciate the position of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbermi, SAN, for taking a hint from this honourable court because the court said in the last adjournment that this matter would be dismissed, even if heaven will fall,” he said.

“Finally, we are compelled to profess our sincere gratitude to this honourable court for the threat to have this matter dismissed for want of diligent prosecution.”

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Sowore, who continues to call for a revolution, with his #RevolutionNow hashtag, said, “The Federal High Court today struck out the farcical “Treasonable Felony” criminal charge filed against Olawale Bakare aka “Mandate” and myself upon an application by the AGF of the Federal Government of Nigeria to discontinue their useless case!”