News

Again Sowore May Be Re-arraigned on Monday

247

 

By Kunle Akinsola

After disobeying a lawful court order, the Federal Government concluded plans to re-arraign Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, on Monday at another Federal High Court in Abuja.

This time around, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is filling a seven-count charge bordering on treasonable felony, money laundering and cybercrimes against Sowore.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Sowore on Sept. 24 after detaining the former presidential candidate of AAA since Aug. 3.

It has continued to keep him in custody in violation of the court order granting him bail six days ago.

On Aug. 8,  Justice Taiwo Taiwo of a Federal High Court granted the DSS permission to hold the activist for 45, and despite meeting the bail conditions since Sept. 25 Sowore has not been released by the DSS.

In the fresh charges instituted against the defendants, the prosecution is accusing Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, of treasonable felony in breach of Section 516 of the Criminal Code.

The prosecution alleges that the defendants committed the offence by allegedly staging “a revolution campaign on August 5, 2019 aimed at removing the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The prosecution also accused them of committing the actual offence of treasonable felony in breach of section, 4(1)(c) of the Criminal Code Act, by using the platform of Coalition for Revolution, in August 2019 in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of Nigeria, to stage the #RevolutionNow protest allegedly aimed at removing the President.

It also accused Sowore of cybercrime offences in violation of section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention) Act, by “knowingly” sending “messages by means of press interview granted on Arise Television network which you knew to be false for the purpose of causing insult, enmity, hatred and ill-will on the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Sowore is also accused of money laundering offences in breach of section 15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 by alleged transferring by means of swift wire, various sums of money from his United Bank of Africa Plc account with number 3002246104 into Sahara Reporters Media Foundation’s account with Guaranty Trust Bank in order to conceal the origin of the funds.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Niger’s ousted president is being denied food and electricity, says European Union

The European Union Friday said it had “deep concern” about the treatment...

Just in: Guinea-Bissau President, Embaló, Visits Tinubu In Lagos

The President of Guinea-Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embaló, on Saturday paid a visit...

Max Air Acquires 16 Year Old Boeing 777-200

Kano based Max Air Limited has taken delivery of its first Boeing...

Fuel Subsidy: Need for Labour to tread softly, Softly 

The Labour Movement in Nigeria is up in arms against the Federal...

Between the dialectics and the benefits of petroleum subsidy removal

By Paul Njowusi For many years, successive administrations in Nigeria had embraced...

Inside Mele Kyari’s Gas Credentials

By Femi Soneye In March 2021 a few months before the Petroleum...

Nigeria, US Military Officers Confer on Techniques for Protecting Civilians

Through these engagements, the U.S. and Nigeria aim to further develop the...

2023: Ex-Zamfara Gov. Yari, Sen. Mafara quit APC, join PDP

Amid intractable crisis in Zamfara APC, two chieftains of the party in...

Controversial ASUU payment platform, UTAS, faces another integrity test — Ngige

  Labour and Employment Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, said on Tuesday that...

Former mayor of Kabul becomes refugee in US after fleeing Taliban

Former Kabul mayor Fazal Karim Aimaq had seen more than his share...

Lagos Govt. releases White Paper on #EndSARS Panel report

  Living up to its billing, the Lagos State Government says it...

Uzodimma says Imo state is safe, calls for prayers

  Governor Hope Uzodimma has reassured Imo indigenes that the state is...

Again, 2 more INEC offices torched in Southeast

The spate of attacks and destruction of the Independent National Electoral Commission...

Reps committee summon Akpabio over alleged corruption, mismanagement and unwarranted meddlesomeness.

    The House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Friday...

Nigeria sees highest one-day increase in coronavirus cases since pandemic began

  The number of positive coronavirus cases continued to climb in Nigeria...

Total coronavirus cases in Nigeria exceed 9,000

  The total number of novel coronavirus infection cases reported so far...

16 new COVID-19 deaths, over 270 new cases in Nigeria Tuesday

  COVID-19 related deaths rose by double digits Tuesday, and cases to...

Coronavirus: Nigeria’s Death Toll At 200 As Cases Nationally Pass 6,650

  The Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC,  said Wednesday night that...