Federal Government Withdraws Treasonable Felony Charge Against Sowore

The Federal Government has applied to withdraw the treasonable felony charge that was filed against civil rights activist and convener of the RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, in 2019.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, sent a letter to the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court requesting the termination of further proceedings in the matter.

Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general election and the publisher of an online news outlet, Sahara Reporters, was arrested and charged after calling for a nationwide protest against perceived maladministration by the former President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Despite the arrest of Sowore and his associate, Olawale Bakare (aka Mandate), the protest took place in various parts of the country on August 5, 2019, with security operatives clamping down on some of the participants.

The defendants were accused of committing treasonable felony, conspiracy, money laundering, cyber-stalking, and insulting President Buhari.

Both Sowore and Bakare pleaded not guilty to the charge, and trial Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu ordered their release on bail.

However, the Department of State Services (DSS) re-arrested Sowore at the premises of the court, sparking public outcry.

In response to the criticism, the immediate past AGF, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, directed the DSS to hands-off the matter and transfer the case-file to his office for review.

Malami subsequently ordered Sowore’s release on December 24, 2019, after he had spent about five months in the custody of the DSS.

Despite the case being ongoing for five years, no meaningful progress was made by the prosecution. The current AGF, Fagbemi, SAN, has now invoked his statutory powers and withdrawn the case.

In conclusion, the Federal Government’s decision to withdraw the treasonable felony charge against Sowore marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between the activist and the government.