Court Further Remands Sowore In DSS Custody, Fixes Friday For Hearing Of Bail Application

Justice Ijeoma Ojuwku of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday remanded the co – convener of # RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare in the custody of the Department of State Security Service, pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.

Justice Ojuwku order that Sowore and Bakare be further kept behind bar after they pleaded not guilty to the seven counts of treasonable felony and other sundry offences instituted against them by the Federal Government.

The court has fixed Friday for the hearing of their bail application.

After the plea of the defendants were taken, the prosecution urged the judge to remand them in custody pending trial, adding that investigation had been concluded.

But the defence counsel told the court that there was no reason for the defendants to remain in custody since investigation is concluded.

He drew attention of the court to the fact that Sowore has been in detention since August 2, and prayed that he should be allowed to go home on the bail terms the court earlier granted him on September 24.

FG had charged Sowore and his co-defendant with conspiracy. money laundering, cyber-stalking and allegation that he insulted President Muhammadu Buhari.

In the statement of offence that was attached to count-one of the charge marked FHC/ ABJ/CR/235/2019, FG, alleged that the defendants committed conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, contrary to section 516 of the criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same section of the Act.

“That you Omoyele Stephen Sowore , Male Adult of No 1 Mosafejo Street, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, Ondo State, Olawale Adebayo Bakare {aka Mandate} Male, Adult of Olaiya Arca, Oshogbo LGA Osun State and others at large, under the eagis of Coalition for Revolution (CORE), sometimes in August 2019 in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspired amongst yourselves to stage a revolution campaign on 5th day of August 2019 tagged #RevolutionNow” aimed at removing the President and Commander–in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during his term of office otherwise known than by constitutional means.”

FG further accused Sowore of committing “cyberstalking”, contrary to section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

He was charged with legal transfer of funds contrary to section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

FG alleged that Sowore had on April 2, at Lagos and Abuja, transferred by means of swift wire, the sum of $19, 975 from his United Bank of Africa Plc Account No. 3002246104 credited by City Bank, New York City, USA, into Sahara Reporters Media Foundations GTB Account No. 0424048298 with the aim of concealing or disguising the illicit origin of the funds.

It alleged that he also transferred $16, 975 from the same UBA Account credited to him by LANDRUM of 7e 146 W 29thStreeet, New York, NY10001, USA, via City Bank Plc, the aim to conceal the illicit origin of the funds.

The charge, which was endorsed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, was signed by a senior state counsel, Mr. A.M. Alilu.

FG has already lined-up six witnesses against the defendants, including bank officials from UBA and GTB.

The DSS had earlier told the court that Sowore got foreign sponsorship to wage war against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

It tendered evidence to prove that Sowore held meetings with both the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu and members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN.