THE Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to hands off the trial of the detained convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore.
Malami’s directive is contained in a statement issued on Friday by his Special Assistant to on Media and Public Relations, Umar Gwandu.
Gwandu explained that the order was part of deliberate efforts to probe emerging issues related to the recent imbroglio in Sowore’s case and for speedy dispensation of justice.
The last week’s attempt to forcefully rearrest Sowore in the premises of the Federal High Court Abuja by operatives of DSS hours he was released on bail has created a public outcry against the Federal Government.
Gwandu’s statement referred to a December 11, 2019 letter sent on behalf of the AGF by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Dayo Apata (SAN), to the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, directing the security agency to “promptly forward all the case files” to the AGF office.
The letter by Apata, who doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, was a response to a September 9, 2019 letter sent to the AGF.
The statement by the media aide to the AGF reads in part, “The Solicitor-General of the Federation and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata, SAN, who signed the letter, referred to a letter from the DSS office on September 9, 2019.”
It quoted Apata’s letter as stating that “the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice upon a further review of the case, has directed the immediate takeover of the prosecution of all charges in respect of Omoyole Sowore by the Federal Ministry of Justice, in line with the provisions of Sections 150(1) and 174 (1) (a-c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
The letter requested the Director to “promptly forward all the case files” in respect of Omoyele Sowore to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.