*To hear application challenging continued detention Dec. 23
By Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, on Tuesday, summoned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, to appear before him over the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore.
Also ordered to appear alongside the AGF is the Director General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Bichi.
They are to appear before the court to show cause on why Sowore should not be released on bail, pending when they would file a charge against him if any.
The order was made sequel to an application by Sowore challenging his rearrest and continued detention by the DSS.
Sowore was rearrested on December 6, within the premises of the Federal High Court Abuja, barely few hours of coming out of a four-month detention at the DSS.
However, Sowore in an exparte application dated December 15 and filed by his lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, is challenging his continued detention by the federal government.
When the matter was called on Tuesday, Justice Ekwo noted that he had seen all processes filed by the applicant and adjourned the case to December 23, 2019 for hearing.
The judge in addition ordered service of both the court processes and order on the respondents.
Sowore and one Olawale Bakare are standing trial on a 16-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, money laundering amongst others.
They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N100m and N30m respectively.
The DSS had refused to release them on bail even after the met their bail application, forcing Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu to issue a 24 hours order for their release.
However, Sowore was rearrested on December 6, shortly after he was released on bail by the DSS over a yet to be disclosed offence.
Details later…
