In a significant turn of events, the Federal government has officially dropped the treasonable felony case against human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and Bakare Olawale.
According to a letter dated February 15, 2024, signed by the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, obtained by Ogunwatch, the discontinuation was revealed.
The letter, citing powers under Section 174 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, stated the intention to discontinue Charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.
Sowore and others were arrested in 2019 during the “RevolutionNow protest,” advocating for President Buhari’s removal. Subsequently, Sowore and co-defendant Olawale Bakare faced treason charges in the Federal High Court Abuja. Sowore had been granted bail during the trial but was rearrested.
The government’s handling of the case since 2019 has been marred by challenges, with multiple judges resigning from the matter. During this period, Sowore’s international passport was sieved by the court, depriving him from making visitations internationally, especially to his family and work places which are domiciled in the United States.
The letter partly reads:
Part of the letter read:
“NOTICE OF DISCONTINUANCE
“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”
