A Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Bichi, over the arrest and detention of RevolutionNow protests convener, Omoyele Sowore.
Justice Iyang Ekwo ordered on Tuesday that Messrs Malami and Bichi be present in court on December 23.
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The judge gave the order in the fundamental suit filed by Mr Sowore against the AGF and DSS over his arrest and continued detention.
Sowore wants the court to order the DSS to pay him N500 million as damages for his detention and violation of fundamental rights.
A judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja signed a release order for Sowore on November 6 after he met the bail conditions set by the judge. But the DSS refused to release him.
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Following Sowore’s initial arraignment in September, he was granted bail by the trial judge. But the SSS disregarded the order and the government filed new charges against the Sahara Reporters’ publisher.
Sowore in his suit dated November 20, wants, among others, “A declaration that the detention of the applicant from November 7, 2019, till date in violation of the order for his release made on November 6, 2019, is illegal as it violates his fundamental right to liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 6 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act (CAP A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
