DSS Plays Hide And Seek With Sowore‘s Bail

The Department For State Security Service (DSS) on Saturday morning again refused to release Omoyele Sowore from illegal custody.

On Friday night, the SSS said in a statement that Mr Sowore was still held because no one had turned up to collect him from detention.

The statement came two days after a federal judge signed Mr Sowore‘s release order after the activist satisfied stringent bail conditions imposed on him as part of his ongoing trial for purported treason and defamation of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The DSS was widely condemned as a lawless agency by Nigerians who were enraged by the effrontery of the institution to brazenly disregard the order of a federal court.

“Since the receipt of the order, no person has turned up” to “take delivery” of Mr Sowore “from custody,” spokesperson Peter Afunanya said Friday night. “This becomes imperative for reasons of accountability.”

The statement prompted a flurry of comments from Nigerians who described it as awkward and ridiculous. Supporters also indicated plans to turn up at the DSS headquarters in Abuja where Mr Sowore is believed to be held, to pick him up.

The failure to release Mr Sowore as of Saturday morning further established public cynicism about the agency’s ability to turn a leaf in its history of rights abuses and apparent disregard for court orders.

It was the second time Mr Sowore would be deprived freedom despite court order. He previously secured a bail in September, but it was not honoured by the DSS, whose agents subsequently filed new charges that were used as excuse for disregarding the first order.

Mr Sowore secured a second court bail on October 4, but the stringent terms, which included depositing ₦50 million in cash, left him still in DSS jail.

After weeks of efforts by his lawyer, including pleading successfully to get the judge to relax the bail terms, Mr Sowore was finally able to meet the conditions on November 6.

Taiwo Taiwo, the presiding judge, subsequently endorsed the conditions as fulfilled and directed the DSS to release Mr Sowore immediately.

But when Mr Sowore‘s lawyers and associates attempted to serve the order on the DSS at about 3:30 p.m., the agency drove them away, saying it had closed for the day.

On Thursday, the DSS acknowledged receipt of the court order and said its compliance was underway.

Still, the secret police continued to keep Mr Sowore in its custody, which lawyers said had become effectively illegal from the moment the judge signed the release order.

On Friday night, amid biting commentary from the public about its illegality, the DSS released a statement, saying it was set to release Mr Sowore but no one had appeared at its office to collect the Sahara Reporters’ publisher.

“I am not sure Nigerians believed the DSS statement that they were looking for someone to collect him,” Ini Effiong, a member of Mr Sowore’s legal team, told PREMIUM TIMES Saturday morning. “It was just a distraction”.

A fiery newspaper publisher and and good governance advocate, Mr Sowore was first arrested in August on allegations of plotting to overthrow the government by organising a protest.

Mr Sowore, however, said the protest, tagged #RevolutionNow, was aimed at compelling the government to prioritise an end to unbridled corruption, mass under-education, poverty and other challenges

Credit: Premium Times