The Federal Government has decided to drop the treasonable felony case against Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.
This decision was conveyed in a document by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, dated February 15, 2024, addressed to the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja.
In the document, the government also expressed its intention to discontinue the case against Sowore’s co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate.
The document stated that the decision was made in accordance with the powers conferred on the Attorney General by relevant sections of the Nigerian Constitution and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The document read, “Between Federal Republic of Nigeria – (complainant) and Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare aka Mandate (defendants).
“Notice of discontinuance. By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Aet 2015 and all other powers enabling me on that behalf, I, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue Charge No FHC/ABI/CR/235/2019.
“Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had previously threatened to strike out the case due to delays and unclear arguments from the prosecution team.
Sowore, who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2019 ahead of a planned protest, has vowed to sue the Federal Government and the DSS for damages totaling ₦100 billion. He alleges wrongful detention, financial and emotional trauma, and the assassination of his brother during his time in custody.
Sowore said, “I’m not supposed to be congratulated because the Federal Government had now decided to discontinue the treasonable felony case against me. I didn’t commit any crime, they only decided to waste my time and the resources of the country.
“But we’re not giving up. I will sue the Federal Government of Nigeria and the DSS for ₦1billion as compensation for the cost of time and resources, mental and financial trauma that they caused my person, my businesses, my wife and children, and my extended family, and also for the assassination of my brother, Olajide Sowore during this five-year period that I was abducted, detained, and now confined to Nigeria while they seized my passport.”