Soyinka, Sani, others Storm The Federal High Court Abuja In Solidarity With @YeleSowore
Court awards N200,000 against FG for seeking frivolous adjournment
Sowore, Bakare Refuse To Take Plea On New Charge During Trial
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| Sowore and Bakare standing trial before Justic Ojukwu in Abuja |
Omoyele Sowore resumes on Wednesday at Court 7, Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja. 9am.
The Prosecuting counsel(s) came to court unprepared, they amended their charges and their initial prosecutors were absent.
Today’s Prosecutor(s) claimed they didn’t know the previous ones in open court.
They’ve also removed the charges of money laundering and cyber bullying Nigerian President, Major Gen. @MBuhari (Rtd)
As the court proceeding continue on Thursday, an NGO Socio-Economic Right Advocacy Project called on the Nigerian government to drop bogus charges against Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare
Court on Wednesday fined the Federal Government the sum of N200,000 for causing an adjournment of the trial on frivolous grounds.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu who described the prosecution’s request for the adjournment as frivolous and uncalled for, postponed the trial till Thursday.
Ojukwu warned that the proceedings would not continue if the prosecution fails to present evidence of the payment of the N200,000 to the defence or come to court with the cash on Thursday.
She condemned the late filing of amended charges and service of same on defence in the open court on Wednesday.
The judge also expressed dissatisfaction with the prosecution’s failure to serve all the necessary documents as ordered by the court over seven weeks ago.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Kayode Alilu, from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had explained to the court that the amendment of the charges followed the taking over of the case from the Department of State Services in December.
He asked for an adjournment to effect the service on the defence.
Presiding Judge asked the prosecution counsel to avail the defendants the required documents.
The defendants were arrested in August 2019 for calling on Nigerians to demand a better country from the administration of President Buhari.
They were released on bail after months of unlawful detention at the headquarters of the Department of State Services in Abuja.
Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka and a former Senator in the 8th NASS, Sen. Sehu Sani, in solidarity with Sowore were in the court in Abuja
They’ve also removed the charges of money laundering and cyber bullying Nigerian President, Major Gen. @MBuhari (Rtd)
As the court proceeding continue on Thursday, an NGO Socio-Economic Right Advocacy Project called on the Nigerian government to drop bogus charges against Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare
Court on Wednesday fined the Federal Government the sum of N200,000 for causing an adjournment of the trial on frivolous grounds.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu who described the prosecution’s request for the adjournment as frivolous and uncalled for, postponed the trial till Thursday.
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| Sowore and Bakare standing trial before Justic Ojukwu in Abuja |
Ojukwu warned that the proceedings would not continue if the prosecution fails to present evidence of the payment of the N200,000 to the defence or come to court with the cash on Thursday.
She condemned the late filing of amended charges and service of same on defence in the open court on Wednesday.
The judge also expressed dissatisfaction with the prosecution’s failure to serve all the necessary documents as ordered by the court over seven weeks ago.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Kayode Alilu, from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, had explained to the court that the amendment of the charges followed the taking over of the case from the Department of State Services in December.
He asked for an adjournment to effect the service on the defence.
Defence lawyer, Mr. Olayinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), contended that the prosecution were not prepared for trial and urged the court to strike out the charges.
He said the prosecution’s request for an adjournment was frivolous and an indication of their lack of diligence in the prosecution of the case.
He said the prosecution’s request for an adjournment was frivolous and an indication of their lack of diligence in the prosecution of the case.
But Alilu opposed the application for the striking out of the charges.
He cited Section 396 (5) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2011 which he said grants parties in a criminal case to ask for an adjournment up to five times in the course of the trial, adding that the prosecution had yet to exhaust the five times.
The judge in a ruling refused to strike out the case but awarded N200,000 cost against the prosecution and in favour of the defence.
Standing in for Femi Falana (SAN), Defence counselOlumide Fusika argued befrore the presiding Judge of the Federal High Court that his clients, Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare (Mandate), would not take plea on the new charge filed against them by the Nigerian Government.
He said until the prosecution served them with necessary documents on the new and previous charge, they would not take plea.
He cited Section 396 (5) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2011 which he said grants parties in a criminal case to ask for an adjournment up to five times in the course of the trial, adding that the prosecution had yet to exhaust the five times.
The judge in a ruling refused to strike out the case but awarded N200,000 cost against the prosecution and in favour of the defence.
Standing in for Femi Falana (SAN), Defence counselOlumide Fusika argued befrore the presiding Judge of the Federal High Court that his clients, Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare (Mandate), would not take plea on the new charge filed against them by the Nigerian Government.
He said until the prosecution served them with necessary documents on the new and previous charge, they would not take plea.
Presiding Judge asked the prosecution counsel to avail the defendants the required documents.
Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare are standing trial on seven counts charges bordering on treasonable felony and cyberstalking President Muhammadu Buhari.
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| Sowore and Bakare |
The defendants were arrested in August 2019 for calling on Nigerians to demand a better country from the administration of President Buhari.
They were released on bail after months of unlawful detention at the headquarters of the Department of State Services in Abuja.
Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka and a former Senator in the 8th NASS, Sen. Sehu Sani, in solidarity with Sowore were in the court in Abuja
Since Major Gen. Buhari led federal government in Nigeria with no regards for the rules of law and fundamental freedoms and human rights failed to delivered on electoral promises, majorly on security, Economy and fight against corruption, his government has since turned against the citizens with genuine agitations, but freed more acclaimed Boko Haram repentants who are still killing harmless and defenseless Nigerians at will.
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