Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), to drop all charges against his client Mr. Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare.
Both are standing trial for treason.
Falana’s request was contained in a statement which he issued on Friday in reaction to the order by the AGF to the DSS to hand over the prosecution of the duo to his office.
In the statement, Falana contended that the AGF was not taking over the case since his office instituted it, but alleged that he (Malami) was planning to hand over prosecution to the Director of Public Prosecution (DDP).
Meanwhile, Falana disclosed that the DSS being bent on making a case out of Sowore was still looking evidence to nail him.
The statement, in part read: “It is not a take-over because it was the AGF that filed the Sowore’s case and farmed it out to Dr. Hassan Liman SAN. But in view of the violent invasion of the court by armed operatives of the SSS, the AGF has decided to sack the prosecution team and have the case prosecuted by the DPP.
“Having been advised that Sowore cannot be convicted on the basis of the proof of evidence filed in court the SSS has refused to make the statements of the prosecution witnesses available to the defendants as ordered by the trial court. Hence, hearing in the case has been adjourned to February 20, 2020, at the instance of the Prosecution.
“Convinced that the pending case would collapse like a pack of cards, the SSS is currently fishing for evidence to nail Sowore.
“In spite of the directive of the AGF to take over the case the SSS subjected Sowore to a 4-hour interrogation yesterday (December 12, 2019).
“The entire interrogation pertained to Sowore’s alleged links with the proscribed Boko Haram sect, IPOB, and IMN which he vehemently denied. At Sowore’s instance a member of the legal defense team, Mr. Abubakar Marshal witnessed the marathon interrogation. The plan of the SSS is to charge Sowore with terrorism in line with the unsubstantiated allegations of presidential media aides.
“In view of the foregoing, we urge the AGF to file a nolle prosequi motion without any further delay to end the macabre dance which has exposed the country to avoidable embarrassment.”
