The State Security Services, SSS, which serves as Nigeria’s secret police, also known as DSS, says it has received a court order releasing the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.
Peter Afunnaya, the spokesperson of the DSS, confirmed this in an e-mailed statement forwarded to The Trent on Friday, November 8, 2019.
According to Dr. Afunnaya, “nobody has turned up at the Service’s office to take delivery of Sowore”. He said that a handover was important given the situation saying the measure is “for the sake of accountability”.
The DSS spokesman noted that the court has been properly briefed the development and the steps being taken by the Service to comply with its order.
He stated that the DSS would never obstruct justice or disobey court orders but would rather do the needful as soon as the appropriate processes have been concluded.
The statement came hours after human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, the lawyer to Mr. Sowore, vowed to return to court over the continued detention of his client by the secret police.
He described the action of the service as utter contempt of court and pledged to seek legal measures against the agency to force it to comply with the bail order.
Mr Sowore and his co-defendant, Mr Olawale Bakare, who are standing trial for alleged treasonable felony, have yet to regain their freedom from the DSS custody since a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered their release on Wednesday.
Read the full statement below:
The Department of State Services (DSS) wishes to confirm that it has received the Court Order for the release of Omoyele Sowore.
It is important that the public notes that since the receipt of the Order, no person has turned up at the DSS to take delivery of him.
This becomes imperative for reasons of accountability.
However, the Court has been properly briefed on this development and the steps being taken to ensure compliance with its Order.
The Service, under the leadership of Yusuf Magaji Bichi (fwc), as the Director-General, is not a lawless organization and will never obstruct justice or disobey Court Orders.
It, therefore, affirms that it will do all that is needful once the appropriate processes have been concluded.
Peter Afunanya, Ph.D
Public Relations Officer,
Department of State Services,
National Headquarters,
Abuja
8th November 2019
