The Federal Government of Nigeria has discontinued an alleged treasonable felony case filed against activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and one other person before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The nolle prosequi (Notice Of Discontinuance) dated Thursday, February 15, 2024, was filed before the Federal High Court sitting Abuja by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
LEADERSHIP reports that the case, instituted in 2019 by the immediate-past Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, was between the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Complainant and Sowore and one Olawale Adebayo Bakare (a.k.a Mandate) as Defendants.
It will be recalled that Sowore was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) at a Lagos hotel in 2019 when he called for ‘revolution’ against the immediate-past Muhammadu Buhari government.
But, Fagbemi, SAN, in the Notice said: “By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.”
Reacting to the development on Thursday, a Lagos-based Lawyer and public affairs commentator, Inibehe Effiong, said the government had no witnesses, no evidence and no legal basis to support what he called the dubious charge against Sowore and ally.
“Because of this facade, Sowore has not been able to visit his family since 2019.
“The current AGF has terminated the time and money wasting charge instituted by Malami,” Effiong stated.