Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has asked the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to withdraw the criminal charges filed against Pro-democracy Campaigner, Omoyele Sowore and his co-accused, Olawale Bakare.
Falana, who is the counsel to the two detained activists said in a statement on Friday, that there was no evidence to convict the duo of Sowore and Bakare. He alleged that the Department of State Services (DSS) is still determined to prosecute his clients despite a directive by the Minister of Justice, asking the security outfit to hands off the case.
It would be recalled that Malami early on Friday via a statement directed the DSS to hands off the case involving Sowore and send the case files to his office.
While noting that the court invasion by the DSS was what prompted the AGF to take over the prosecution of his clients, Falana insisted that despite the AGF’s directive, the DSS was still bent on fishing for evidence to file fresh charges against his clients.
“In spite of the directive of the AGF to hands over the case, the SSS subjected Sowore to a four-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 defence team, Mr. Abubakar Marshal, witnessed the marathon interrogation. The plan is to charge Sowore with terrorism as a follow-up to the unsubstantiated allegations of a presidential media aide.
“In the light of the foregoing, we urge the AGF to file a nolle prosequi motion to end the macabre dance which has exposed the country to avoidable embarrassment.
“But in view of the violent invasion of the court by the armed operatives of the SSS the AGF has decided to sack the external prosecution team and have the case prosecuted by the Department of Public Prosecution,” Falana added.
