Femi Falana, the lead counsel and human rights lawyer, has on Friday, December 13, 2019, asked the attorney-general of the Federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami, to terminate all legal proceedings against the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare immediately.
Falana in a statement reacted to the orders by Malami to the DSS, insisting that it is not a take-over because the case was filed from the office of the AGF.
He explained that the AGF has decided to sack the prosecution team led by Hassan Liman and hand over to the DPP.
“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.”
Falana stated that the Department of State Services has remained adamant to make a case out of Sowore and are currently fishing for pieces of evidence to nail Sowore.
“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.
He added that “In spite of the directive of the AGF to take over the case the SSS subjected Sowore to a 4-hour interrogation on 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, Abubakar Marshal witnessed the marathon interrogation. The plan of the SSS is to charge Sowore with terrorism in line with the unsubstituted 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.”
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