Alleged Treason: Why Judge Abandoned Sowore's Case, Trial To Start Afresh Again
Faith Ukanwa
Jul 22, 2021
The trial of the publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, and his co, Olawale Bakare has suffered a setback again as Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu has abandoned the case.
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Justice Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Abuja who has been transferred to Calabar, Cross Rivers state informed Chief Justice John Tsoho, that although she would continue with other cases, she would no longer preside over Sowore's case.
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This is the second time Sowore's case marked; FHC/ABJ/CR/235/19, will have to start afresh.
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Since the beginning of the case in 2019, two judges have refused to take up Sowore's case due to its 'sensitive nature.'
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Recall that the Department of State Services (DSS), had arraigned Sowore and Bakare before Justice Ojukwu for treasonable felony for organising the 'Revolution Now' protest on August 5, 2019, which the government saw as an attempt to disrupt peace in the country.
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Justice Ojukwu subsequently ordered that Sowore and Bakare be released on bail but the DSS disobeyed the order for several weeks. After granting him bail, the DSS re-arrested Sowore inside the court, causing commotion which made the judge flee.
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He was, however, released following nationwide condemnation.
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In February 2020, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, took over the case, amended the charges and re-arraigned Sowore and Bakare.
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The judge ordered the Federal Government to pay N200,000 as the cost to the defendants for the frivolous application for adjournment and adjourned till February 13.
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An anonymous court official told PUNCH;
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"It seems some of these judges feel intimidated. They don't want Federal Government trouble. The case is high profile and controversial. So, they have been avoiding itÔÇØ.
Other cases said to have being returned to the Chief Justice and also will have a fresh trial, according to the source are;
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A criminal defamation case instituted by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), involving Sowore, which is being handled by Justice Taiwo Taiwo.
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A fundamental human rights suit instituted by Sowore against the Director-General of the DSS,Yusuf Bichi, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/ 1469/2019 for unlawful detention, which is pending before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
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"The case, Incorporated Trustees of Global Integrity Crusade Network - suing on behalf of Abubakar Malami - VS Omoyele Sowore and three others which is pending before Justice Taiwo Taiwo has also been returned to the Chief Judge for reassignment despite the fact that all the parties have filed all the processes and ready for final hearing before judgementÔÇØ.
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"I have never seen this sort of thing before despite serving in this court for many years. No judge is willing to sit on Sowore's case. This never happened even during the military era,ÔÇØ the source added.
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— Faith Ukanwa