Revolution Now Protest: Court Orders DSS to Release Sowore’s Mobile Phones, N10,000

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Justice Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday slammed the sum of N2 million against the Department of State Service (DSS) for illegally seizing an iPhone and cash from publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, in 2019.

The court found the DSS guilty of violating the rights of Sowore, when it forcefully took the said item and cash during Sowore’s arrest in 2019 for spearheading the #RevolutionNow protest, against harsh economic situation under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Justice Chikere, who made the order in a fundamental rights suit filed by Sowore, subsequently ordered the DSS to release forthwith the iPhones and N10, 000 to the owner.

Sowore had gone to court to challenge his arrest on August 3, 2019, at a hotel in Lagos as well as the seizure of his property by the operatives of the service.

The suit, which was filed on his behalf by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has the DSS as first defendant.

Delivering judgment, Justice Chikere ordered the DSS to pay the sum of N2million as aggravated damages to the activist and also tender an apology in two national dailies within two months.

She described the forceful seizures of the personal property of the SR publisher as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void, and gross violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.

The Judge further held that the DSS ought to have obtained court order before the confiscation of his personal property and that seizure cannot be regarded as ‘temporary’ since 2019.

The court also held that the claim by the DSS that his phones were still under investigation since 2019 over his alleged link with terrorists, was illegal and unconstitutional.

Sowore’s lawyer, Falana, while reacting to the judgement, expressed happiness, describing it as victory for justice.