Nigerians have expressed shock as Activist Omoyele Sowore was rearrested by the personnel of Department Of State Services (DSS) at the Federal High Court, Abuja during the continuation of his trial.
His second arrest by the DSS operatives came barely 24 hours after he was released by the secret service following an order by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu which mandated the security agency to set the activist free before his court appearance on Friday.
The court had also fined the DSS N100,000 for its disobedience of multiple court orders authorizing his release.
The DSS operatives however disrupted the court process on Friday in the bid to re-arrest the #RevolutionNow convener.
Reports say pandemonium erupted at the court when the DSS violently attempted to grab Sowore and drag him out of court. Worried the chaos may turn violent, the presiding Judge, Ijeome Ojukwu ended court proceedings and retire to her chambers for safety.
To prevent Sowore’s re-arrest while in the court room, his supporters created a human shield around him while physically repelling the security agencies from grabbing the activist.
However a new video on social media showed Sowore in a black Lexus SUV accompanied by his lawyer Femi Falana as the vehicle was escorted by heavily armed security officials numbering up to 20.
Meanwhile, the activist who as at December 5th had spent 126 days in DSS custody is charged with Treasonable Felony, threatening public safety, insulting the president and six counts of money laundering; all charges he has pleaded not guilty to.
Sowore had while speaking in court revealed that the DSS planned to kill him while in their custody.
In a phone interview with Channels Television, Sowore’s counsel, Femi Falana gave an explanation of what happened in court saying:
“Sowore jumped into my car and we drove to the offices of the state security services because they said they wanted him to answer a few questions but now he is already being detained. We are going to take steps under the law to ask that he be released again since they are claiming it is an fresh arrest. Nobody has been told yet what the charges are. He couldn’t have committed any new offense since he has been detained for the past four months unless the state security service will like to tell the whole world he committed the crime while in their custody”
Meanwhile, Sowore’s co-defendant Oluwale Bakare has been declared missing. The duo appeared in court together for the trial however after the chaos in court, Bakare’s whereabouts cannot be accounted for.
Uproar on Twitter over re-arrest of Sowore
Sowore is trending on Twitter at number 2 worldwide and Number 1 in Nigeria following his re-arrest by DSS. Using social media, Nigerians have ”lambasted government’s flagrant disregard for rule of law”.
Deji Adeyanju, fellow activist has called out the government accusing President MUhammadu Buhari of masterminding Sowore’s ordeal.
Former Presidential candidate, Fela Durotoye in a tweet described today December 6th as a tragic day for the rule of law in Nigeria saying DSS conduct shows the government has no regard for the judiciary
Celebrities such as Singers Davido and Adekunle Gold and journalist Funmi Iyanda have all spoken out against the re-arrest of Sowore expressing shock at such disregard for the judicial process
Groups such as Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project SERAP says Sowore’s arrest is yet another example of President Mohammadu Buhari’s total contempt for human rights, the rule of law as well as independence and integrity of the judiciary.
Even strong supporters of the administrations such as Kayode Ogundamisi and J.J Omojuwa have condemned Sowore’s rearrest
What Will Buhari Do?
Recall that in August 2018 when the DSS attempted to break into the National Assembly, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo while in capacity of acting president fired its head, Lawal Daura.
President Mohammadu Buhari had been quiet about the continued detention of Sowore in DSS custody despite multiple court orders to release him. With the actions of the state security service at the Federal High court, many are waiting to see if and how the President will react to this.
