The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sowore

  • Nigerians blast Sowore for insisting protests continue

    Nigerians blast Sowore for insisting protests continue

    Some Nigerians have slammed Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress candidate for the 2023 presidential election for insisting the hunger protests continue on Monday.

    This comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday appealed to Nigerians to suspend the protests to dialogue with the government on challenges facing the nation.

    Tinubu urged the protesters to suspend their demonstrations, adding that the efforts of his administration “will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy”.

    Nigerians have been protesting against economic hardship and spiralling inflation since August 1.

    After Tinubu’s appeal on Sunday, the few people who gathered at the Freedom Park in Lagos early on Sunday.

    The Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja was also deserted.

    On Sunday, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State, Jibril Gawat announced on his X account that protest leaders in Ojota have declared to suspend the demonstration after Tinubu’s speech.

    He wrote: BREAKING NEWS: Protest leaders at Ojota have called off their demonstrations after the President’s broadcast this morning. They told the police they would leave the protest ground and disperse.”

    However, in response to Gawat’s post, Sowore who is not in the country, insisted that the protests continue on Monday, adding details of demonstration locations.

    Read Also: Counting the cost of protests: Billions in losses, widespread destruction

    He said: “Please be aware that the #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria action will resume fully tomorrow across Nigeria and in several parts of Lagos—Lekki Toll Gate, Alausa Secretariat, former Lagos Toll Gate, Ketu, LASU Gate, Abule Egba, FESTAC Town, and several other centres. However, all groups are advised to march towards Ojota before processions to the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.”

    Some Nigerians however took a swipe at Sowore over his recent call.

    @EleluAyoola wrote: “Sowore, come to Nigeria and lead the protest. That is how to know if you mean well for us.”

    @realaspirin said: ”Since Monday, you never buy tickets fly go 9ja. You just dey rant online.”

    @rhaymoni demanded: ”No be Cho Cho Cho… Come to Nigeria and show working.”

    @Bellotec stated: “If you like, listen to him, you will just die and die for nothing. Those who were killed yesterday in the Kurna/Bacirawa axis of Kano died for nothing, nothing will change, and nobody will be prosecuted, only leaving their family to grief. If you like, no listen, you won’t rest in peace sha.”

    @bolajiayo asked: “Why don’t you come with your children and lead the protest? Why instigate other people’s children to go out and protest? What happened to your children? Abi they are not patriotic Nigerians?”

    @computizzy1: “Nah, bro. People are going back to work tomorrow. This shit ain’t working and they’re tired of it. You gonna have to fly down from the US to come run it yourself. You can still get flights from EWR or JFK that’ll get you to Lagos tomorrow morning.”

  • BREAKING: Sowore counters Adegboruwa, says nationwide protest continues

    BREAKING: Sowore counters Adegboruwa, says nationwide protest continues

    Rights activist and Convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, has urged protesters to continue with the #EndBadGovernance protests nationwide.

    Recall The Nation had earlier reported that Human Rights Lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN asked youths to immediately suspend the demonstrations.

    Adegboruwa is one of the lawyers of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups participating in the nationwide protests.

    He regretted deaths and losses recorded during the demonstrations, saying it was not the goal of the protests.

    “I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, in order to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government. Adegboruwa said in his statement.

    Read Also: VIDEO: Protesters scramble for sausage rolls, water at Ojota

    Reacting, Sowore in a statement on his X page (formerly Twitter) said: “Good day fellow conscious citizens

    “Thank you all for staying the course in the last 24 hours since the commencement of the #endbadgovernaceinnigeria REVOLT.

    “Note: the daily barricades, marches, rallies and people’s congresses should be intensified.

    “We want to notify the public that in addition to street marches, those at home should engage in pot & pan protests against hunger, poverty and starvation.

    “Grab your pots& pans now and start banging them on your streets; take them with you to the roadside.

    “Bang, bang, bang! #revolutions are “the festivals of the oppressed and the exploited!”

  • #RevolutionNow: Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release seized items

    #RevolutionNow: Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release seized items

    A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday discharged Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare over alleged treasonable felony preferred against them by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling after counsel for the AGF, A. R. Tahir, withdrew the charge, struck out the matter.

    Justice Nwite also ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to immediately release three phones and N10,000 seized from Sowore during his arrest.

    Read Also: EFCC quizzes ex-Gov Ahmed over alleged diversion of N10bn

    The judge ordered the DSS to release a phone belonging to Bakare and N1,500 confiscated from him during his arrest.

    He also ordered that Sowore’s international passport be released to him forthwith.

    The orders followed an application by lawyer to Sowore and Bakare, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN).

  • JUST IN: Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release seized items

    JUST IN: Court discharges Sowore, Bakare, orders DSS to release seized items

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, discharged Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare of alleged treasonable felony charge by the Attorney-General.of the Federation (AGF), Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.

    Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling after counsel for the AGF, A.R. Tahir, withdrew the charge, struck out the matter.

    Justice Nwite also ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to immediately release three phones and the sum of N10, 000 seized from Sowore during his arrest.

    The judge also ordered the DSS to release a phone belonging to Bakare and the sum of N1, 500 confiscated from him during his arrest.

    Justice Nwite equally ordered that Sowore’s international passport be released.

    Read Also: Treason: AGF discontinues case against Sowore, others

    The orders followed an application by lawyer to Sowore and Bakare, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, to tye effect.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sowore and Bakare were earlier arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu in 2019 before the matter was reassigned to Nwite.

    (NAN)

  • Treason: AGF discontinues case against Sowore, others

    Treason: AGF discontinues case against Sowore, others

    • Govt’s decision shows respect for rule of law

    The Federal Government has discontinued the trial of politician and media owner, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, (aka Mandate).

    The government’s decision to discontinue the trial was communicated to the Federal High Court in Abuja via a notice, dated February 14 but filed the next day by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    The notice reads: “By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) (c} of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended; Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), intend to discontinue charge number: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.”

    Sowore and Bakare were arraigned in 2019 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony and related offences for organising the #RevolutionNow protest on August 5, 2019, which the government regarded as an attempt to disrupt peace in the country.

    But Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu granted Sowore bail on October 4, 2019 at N100 million with two sureties in like sum.

    Read Also: How Wigwe’s aide escaped death

    The judge said the sureties must be resident in Abuja, must have landed property in Abuja that was worth the bail sum and must deposit the original title documents of their property with the court.

    Justice Ojukwu also ordered one of Sowore’s sureties to deposit N50 million in the account of the court as security.

    She granted bail to Bakare at N50 million with one surety in like some on the same day.

    The judge barred them from addressing any rally pending the conclusion of their trial.

    While the judge barred Sowore from travelling out of Abuja, she restricted Bakare to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, until the conclusion of the trial.

    Following an application by the defendants, Justice Ojukwu, on October 21, 2019, varied some of the bail conditions.

    No major progress was made in the case until it was reassigned to another judge of the court, Justice Emeka Nwite.

    When the case came up on Wednesday before Justice Nwite, a new prosecuting lawyer applied for an adjournment on the grounds that the former lawyer had been redeployed.

    Also, an Abuja-based lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, has hailed the Federal Government for its decision to discontinue the case.

    Olajengbesi said: “This decision reflects a commitment to upholding the principles of justice and fairness within our legal system.

    “By discontinuing the trial, the Attorney General has demonstrated a willingness to review cases objectively and prioritise the protection of citizens’ rights.

    “This action reinforces the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring that individuals are not unduly persecuted for exercising their rights.

    “I applaud the Attorney General for his discernment and for taking proactive steps to promote a legal environment that respects fundamental human rights.

    “This decision sets a positive precedent for the administration of justice in Nigeria and reaffirms the government’s dedication to upholding the rule of law.”

  • UPDATED: Revolution Now: Fed Govt discontinues trial of Sowore, Bakare

    UPDATED: Revolution Now: Fed Govt discontinues trial of Sowore, Bakare

    The federal government has discontinued the trial of politician and media owner, Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare (also known as Mandate).

    The Fed Govt’s decision to discontinue the trial was communicated to the Federal High Court in Abuja via a notice of discontinuance, dated February 14, but filed the next day by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    The notice  reads: “By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) (c} of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.

    Sowore and Bakare were arraigned in 2019 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on a seven-count charge bordering treasonable felony and related offences for organising the revolution now protest on August 5, 2019, which the government regarded as an attempt to disrupt peace in the country.

    They were however granted bail on October 4, 2019 at by Justice  Ijeoma Ojukwu.

    Read Also: Alleged treason: Absence of judge stalls Sowore’s case

    Justice Ojukwu  granted bail to Sowore at N100million with two sureties in like sum.

    The judge said the sureties must be resident in Abuja,  must have landed property in Abuja that is worth the bail sum and are to deposit the original title documents of the property with the court.

    Justice Ojukwu also ordered one of Sowore’s sureties to deposit N50m in the account of the court as security.

    She granted bail to Bakare at N50m with one surety in like some.

    The judge barred them from addressing any rally pending the conclusion of their trial.

    While the judge barred Sowore from travelling out of Abuja, she restricted Bakare to Osogbo until the conclusion of the trial.

    Upon an application by the defendants, Justice Ojukwu,

    on October 21, 2019 court varied some of the bail conditions.

    No major progress was made in the case until it was reassigned to another judge of the court, Justice Emeka Nwite.

    When the case came up on Wednesday before Justice Nwite, a new prosecuting lawyer applied for an adjournment on the grounds that the former lawyer has been redeployed.

    Meanwhile, an Abuja-based lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi has commended the Fed Govt for its decision to discontinue the case.

    Olajengbesi said: “This decision reflects a commitment to upholding the principles of justice and fairness within our legal system.

    “By discontinuing the trial, the Attorney General has demonstrated a willingness to review cases objectively and prioritize the protection of citizens’ rights. 

    “This action reinforces the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring that individuals are not unduly persecuted for exercising their rights.

    “I applaud the Attorney General for his discernment and for taking proactive steps to promote a legal environment that respects fundamental human rights. 

    “This decision sets a positive precedent for the administration of justice in Nigeria and reaffirms the government’s dedication to upholding the rule of law,” Olajengbesi said.

  • BREAKING: FG discontinues trial of Sowore, Bakare over #RevolutionNow protest

    BREAKING: FG discontinues trial of Sowore, Bakare over #RevolutionNow protest

    The Federal Government has discontinued the trial of politician and media owner, Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare (also known as Mandate).

    The decision to discontinue the trial was communicated to the Federal High Court in Abuja via a notice of discontinuance, dated February 14 but filed the next day by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

    Read Also: Why I didn’t join Labour Party, by Sowore

    The notice  reads: “By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) (c} of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.

    Sowore and Bakare were arraigned in 2019 before the Federal High Court in Abuja following his staging of a protest rally in Abuja which he tagged “Revolution Now.”

    Details shortly…

  • Why I didn’t join Labour Party, by Sowore

    Why I didn’t join Labour Party, by Sowore

    The candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate during the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, revealed that he turned down an invitation to join the Labour Party due to ideological differences.

    In a two-minute video shared on his X account on Wednesday, Sowore argued that both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) shared ideologies with the Labour Party.

    He also claimed that the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would likely have pursued policies such as fuel subsidy removal, similar to President Bola Tinubu.

    He said: “I often tell the Labour Party people that they are not different from the PDP and APC. We often argue because they are very visible on social media. And they would attack us all the time.

    “So, one time that they reached me, asking me to join them, I said I can’t join the Labour Party—for a number of reasons.

    “One, the Labour Party is the party without workers. And that is the truth. And for those of you who know Airbnb, short rentals. The Labour Party is like a short rental; you pack in, and the owners will have to drive you out.

    Read Also: VIDEO: AAC’s Sowore joins NLC protest in Lagos

    “The Labour Party is not a new party. The former governor of my state, Ondo (Segun Mimiko), was in the party. He left the state worse than he met it.

    “I told them that after the (2023) election, you will be shouting revolution. The next day after the (presidential) election in February, I woke up, and ‘Revolution Now’ was trending.

    He added: “I said, ‘Why is the Labour Party trending?’ I discovered that it is the Labour Party people asking for revolution. That is after they were cheated out of the system.”

  • Alleged treason: Absence of judge stalls Sowore’s case

    Alleged treason: Absence of judge stalls Sowore’s case

    The alleged treason case filed by the Federal Government against a former Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore was stalled on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Abuja due to the absence of the judge.

    Sowore is standing trial before Justice Emeka Nwite on allegations of treasonable felony.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government had accused Sowore of treason following his call for a protest tagged #RevolutionNow, on Aug. 5, 2019.

    Sowore was in court on Tuesday, but the matter could not go on.

    His counsel, Mr Marshall Abubakar told NAN that the court registrar had informed him that the judge was on national assignment in another jurisdiction of the court.

    Abubakar said he had to take a new date, Feb. 14, 2024, for hearing.

    NAN recalls that on the last adjourned date on Nov. 15, Justice Nwite had threatened to strike out the four-year-long case if the government failed to obey an order of court to serve the charge on the second defendant.

    The prosecuting counsel, Ms Mariam Okorie, however, said she was not aware if the second defendant, Olawale Bakare, had been served with the notice.

    Counsel to Sowore, Abubakar, had told the court that the prosecution team was only trying to frustrate his client by its inability to serve the second defendant the hearing notice for him to appear in court.

    Abubakar said that he had written a letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice asking that the charge be severed so that Sowore could take his plea and stand trial alone.

    Read Also: VIDEO: AAC’s Sowore joins NLC protest in Lagos

    The prosecutor also told the court that since they had written to the minister, they would have to wait for the minister’s response to know the next line of action.

    Justice Nwite had at the time, said that he was minded to grant an adjournment on the condition that by the next adjourned date, the prosecution team would comply with the order of the court to serve the second defendant.

    The judge had warned that if the order of the court to serve the second defendant was not complied with, the matter would be struck out.

    (NAN)

  • Sowore: The vestiges of dictatorship

    SIR: If there is any shouting evidence that the vestiges of dictatorship still remain with us long after we bade military rule goodbye, it is the current travails of political activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.

    Since the beginning of the fourth republic on May 29, 1999, successive governments have worryingly engaged in practices that can best be described as antithetical to democratic norms. Put plainly, democracy has failed to end abuses that  characterised the jackboot era of intolerance.

    Who will forget the infamous Odi massacre and the disregard for a Supreme Court order that the Lagos State funds seized by the Olusegun Obasanjo-led federal government be released?  Or the clampdown on media houses perceived to be enemies of former President Jonathan because of their criticism of his government for not adequately tackling Nigeria’s security problems?

    Who will forget the seizure of newspapers and destruction of thousands of copies by soldiers during the Jonathan administration which was described by the presidency then as “isolated incidents of security checks”?

    In the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, nothing appears to have changed. Only recently, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, said Nigeria had gone back to the repressive and dark days of the Abacha era following the unceasing human rights abuses traced to the Buhari  government. Also, Nigerians known to be too critical of the present government have either been detained or their whereabouts unknown.

    An egregious example of the blatant disregard for human rights and dissenting views was displayed when Sowore was arrested and detained for calling out Nigerians to protest the failings of the Buhari government. He was later charged with treasonable felony and accused of insulting the president.

    Rather than get agitated about the mention of revolution and protests, the Buhari government would do well to address the issues raised by the activist and his group. Except those who choose not to see the ugly realities confronting us on a daily basis, no one can deny that Nigeria is currently bedeviled by nagging security problems, grinding poverty, especially with Nigeria as the poverty capital of the world. Or is it the romance with individuals with various corruption allegations hanging over their heads who have now become new creatures  by virtue of the fact they are now belong to the ruling party? Or is it the economy that is in a tailspin?

    Instead of breathing down the necks of Nigerians that demand good governance, the call to protest should be a wakeup call to the concerned authorities to address the aforementioned problems for the betterment of Nigerians.

    Curiously, the same government that would not allow harmless protesters a breathing space has no issues with negotiating with bloodthirsty terrorists that have brought sorrow, tears and blood to many homes, justifying their action with the argument that it is a global practice.

    In the run-up to the 2015 elections, General Buhari had promised to uphold the rule of law and respect fundamental human rights, claiming to be a reformed democrat.

    Today, we are told national interest- as defined by the Buhari administration and the Department of State Services (DSS)- takes precedence over the rule of law. If we pretend to concede that the highlighted excuse for blatant disregard for the laws of the land is true, we can begin to understand why former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki and Shiite leader,  Sheikh Ibrahim Elzakzaky are still languishing in jail. But what would be the excuse for detaining Sowore after a court has granted him bail?

    Interestingly, the same government that was quick to obey the order to detain Sowore has suddenly developed cold feet when the court granted him bail. Ordinarily, Nigeria’s biggest opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), should be vociferous about the worrying disdain for court orders not in favour of the Buhari government. But that is if it has the moral latitude for such. In PDP’s Cross River State, Journalist, Agba Jalingo, is in detention for a publication the government does not find friendly. Where then will the PDP derive the moral justification to call out the ruling party for its disturbing abuse of power?

    Without any whiff of doubt, freedom of expression is under threat in Nigeria. And when a government justifies brazen disdain for court orders, it is not for any other reason but to kill dissenting voices. Little wonder Prof Wole Soyinka was quoted as saying the greatest threat to freedom is the absence of criticism.

    It is time men of good conscience in the Nigerian Bar Association, the Nigerian Labour Congress and all civil society groups rose by exploring all constitutional means to save the judiciary from imminent collapse and Nigeria from its gradual slide into anarchy.

    • Ladesope Ladelokun,

    Ladesopeladelokun@gmail.com