Sowore, Bakare yet to regain freedom despite court order 

Soon to be release activist, Sowore, Bakare’s still lingers in DSS custody, even after meeting the bail condition set by justice Ojukwu of the Federal high court Abuja.

Detained activist and convener of the RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare (aka Mandate), who are facing a treasonable felony charge, on Wednesday, failed to regain their freedom after they perfected all their bail conditions.

However, a member of their legal team told Vanguard that the Department of State Service, DSS, promised to release them from custody on Thursday.

The lawyer who craved anonymity because he did not seek the permission of his principal to speak to the press on the matter, disclosed that the DSS was served with a duly signed order of the Federal High Court in Abuja directing that the defendants should be released from detention.

The court order, which was signed by trial Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, indicated that both Sowore and Bakare have fulfilled all their bail terms.

Counsel to the defendants and human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, had earlier on Wednesday, told the court that his clients had met their bail conditions.

Falana, SAN, had expressed optimism that the duo would be freed shortly after the court proceeding.

Sowore who looked emancipated and his co-defendant were ecstatic as they exited the courtroom.

They remained within the court premises, surrounded by operatives of the DSS till around 5 pm when the court signed their release order.

Meanwhile, trial Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu has fixed December 5 and 6 to commence a trial of the defendants on the seven-count charge against them.

The court initially gave the prosecution the nod to call its witnesses after it refused Falana’s request for the case to be adjourned.

Falana had alleged that he was unable to have access to his clients at the detention facility of the DSS.

He said his inability to interact with his clients hampered his opportunity to effectively package their defence. Justice Ojukwu subsequently deferred the trial till next month to enable the prosecution to serve a statement of its witnesses, video exhibits and all other documents it would rely on to prove the case, on the defendants.