The Federal Government has announced its decision to abandon the treasonable felony case brought against Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.
This revelation came through a document issued by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, dated February 15, 2024, and addressed to the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division.
In the document, the government declared its intention to discontinue the case against Sowore, as well as his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate.
Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, stated in the document, “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 Act 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.”
Meanwhile, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had previously threatened to dismiss the treasonable felony case, emphasizing the need for clarity and coherence from the Federal Government’s prosecution team.
Sowore’s ordeal began when he was arrested by DSS operatives on August 3, 2019, ahead of a planned #RevolutionNow protest scheduled for August 5, 2019. Despite several arraignments by the DSS, Sowore was eventually released amidst sustained pressure.
Represented in court by the law firm of pro-democracy and human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, Sowore expressed his intention to seek redress against the Federal Government and the Department of State Services, demanding ₦100 billion in compensation for the trauma inflicted upon him, his family, and his businesses during his five-year ordeal, as well as for the alleged assassination of his younger brother, Olajide Sowore, in 2021.
In an exclusive telephone interview, Sowore stated, “I’m not supposed to be congratulated because the Federal Government has 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.”