The Nigerian government has made a formal request to withdraw the treasonable felony charge leveled against civil rights activist Omoyele Sowore by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in 2019.
In a letter dated February 14, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, applied for the termination of further proceedings in the matter, signaling a significant development in the legal case.
Sowore, a prominent figure who contested for the presidency and is the publisher of Sahara Reporters, had been arrested for calling for a nationwide protest against perceived governance issues under the previous administration.
He was arrested alongside his associate, Olawale Bakare (aka Mandate), and faced charges including not only treasonable felony but also conspiracy, money laundering, cyber-stalking, and insulting the president.
The alleged offenses were linked to their association with the group Coalition for Revolution (CORE), and their advocacy for a #RevolutionNow campaign aimed at effecting political change outside constitutional means.
Despite pleading not guilty, Sowore and Bakare faced a lengthy period of detention until a bail order was issued, which was briefly ignored by the Department of State Services (DSS) upon their re-arrest at the court premises.
This controversial action prompted public outrage and a subsequent directive by the former Attorney-General to transfer the case for review before eventually ordering Sowore’s release in December 2019.
The Court of Appeal later criticized the stringent bail conditions imposed on Sowore, allowing for more freedom of movement.
After five years with minimal progress in the prosecution, the current Attorney-General, Fagbemi, SAN, has invoked his authority to withdraw the case, citing specific constitutional and legal provisions for his action.
In his notice of discontinuance to the court, Fagbemi stated: “By virtue of the power conferred on me… I, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, intend to discontinue Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.”
This recent development marks a significant turn in the legal battle involving Sowore, casting a spotlight on the intersection of civil rights, legal proceedings, and political activism on the global stage.
