FG To Sack Judge For Granting Sowore Bail, Drag Him Before NJC

There were indications on Friday night that President Muhammadu Buhari led government set to sack Justice Taiwo Tawo for granting the founder of Sahara Reporters and the presidential candidate of AAC, Omoyele Sowore.

The federal government was contemplating reporting Justice Taiwo Taiwo, to the National Judicial Council (NJC) on account of his decision to grant bail to the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

Justice Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja admitted Sowore to bail on Tuesday and dismissed the objection raised by the Department of State Security (DSS) to the bail.

According to the Nation newspaper who gathered last night that a shocked Nigerian security and intelligence community met on the matter yesterday and resolved to appeal the judgement.

It also decided to petition the NJC on the issue.
A top government source, who spoke to The Nation, on the condition of anonymity, said that anyone standing trial for treasonable felony is not entitled to bail.

He said :”Sowore’s bail is likely to bring trouble for that judge. A report has been prepared to report him to NJC in view of the fact that, as far as this country, it is known that a person charged treasonable felony has no bail option.

“So, the security and intelligence community in the country is shocked by the judgement.

“And there is a consensus that the judgement should not only be appealed, but that the NJC should be petitioned about the conduct and abuse of power by the judge.”

Sowore was arrested and kept in the custody of the DSS since 3rd of August, 2019, for allegedly calling for “revolution” through the group’s protest fixed for 5th of September 2019.

Sowore on Thursday, commenced a contempt suit against the Director-General of the DSS,Yusuf Bichi, for allegedly disobeying the order granting him bail.

On Wednesday his lawyers submitted his passport to a Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
Meanwhile Sowore remained in the custody of the Department of Security Service (SSS) last night, 72 hours after a Federal High Court granted him bail.

His lawyers claimed yesterday that the DSS refused to comply with the court order even after his bail conditions had been met.

It was gathered that a court bailiff bearing the documents confirming that the bail conditions had been met was not allowed into the DSS premises Abuja yesterday morning.

He was asked to come back at 12 noon which he did.

This time,the document was collected from him and Sowore’s lawyers at the gate,yet he was not released.

Sowore is facing trial for treaons -related charges.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the release the convener of #RevolutionNow protest on Tuesday on the condition that his lawyer , Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), will produce him for arraignment whenever he is required.

Newsflash247 had earlier reported that Justice Taiwo Taiwo has ordered the release of the convener of the #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.

The Federal Government had filed seven counts bordering on treasonable felony and money laundering against Mr Sowore who is also the publisher of Sahara Reporters.

After being detained for 45 days, additional charges were filed against him.

But after hearing arguments from both the prosecuting and defence counsels on Tuesday, the trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the release of Mr Sowore.

He ordered the release on the grounds that there is no order still in court and on the condition that he must deposit all travel documents within 48 hours of the ruling.

The judge also ordered that Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana must produce him whenever the court needs him.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo has asked the Department of State Service to release Omoyele Sowore on bail.

The judge, as part of bail conditions, asked Sowore to drop his passport with the court within 48 hours.

Newsflash247 reported that DSS has blocked two attempts on Friday by the court bailiff of the Federal High Court in Abuja from effecting a fresh service of the court order for the release Omowole Sowore.

It was learnt that the bailiff first arrived the DSS headquarters in Abuja, where he (Sowore) had been held since August 3, 2019, around 9.30 a.m. on Friday, but was asked to return by 12pm when the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, would be around.

But it was learnt that the bailiff returned to the DSS headquarters at 12.14 p.m. on Friday, but was denied access.

One of Sowore’s lawyer, Sam Ogala, who was at the main gate of the DSS office during the bailiff’s attempt to serve the security agency, confirmed the development to our correspondent.

Sowore’s legal team led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), had on Thursday expressed shock over DSS’ claim that it had not been served with the order issued by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja granting bail to Sowore.

On Thursday, after DSS’ spokesperson denied that the agency that it had been served with the court order, Falana said, Ayuba Adam of the Legal Department of the DSS received the court order on behalf of the agency on September 24, 2019 (Tuesday).

The DSS’ denial came after news broke that Sowore’s legal team had commenced a contempt suit against the DSS boss for failing to comply with the court order for Sowore’s release.

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