By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday, said that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, has embarrassed the executive arm of government.
Falana maintained that Malami exposed the judiciary to ridicule with his comments after the release of Omoyele Sowore and Sambo Dasuki from illegal custody.
In a statement, yesterday, Falana insisted that the minister embarrassed his office by saying he directed the Department of State Service to release the men from custody in line with the various court orders for their release only to later state that they were released out of compassion.
The Sowore’s lead counsel, maintained that the two men were kept in detention in violation of the various orders of the Federal High Court, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja and the ECOWAS court “based on erroneous legal advice”.
Dasuki, a former National Security Adviser, was released on the Christmas Eve of 2019 by the Department of State Service after about four years in custody and violation of series of court orders for his release.
Sowore, the Sahara Reporters publisher and convener of ‘RevolutionNow’ protests, was arrested on August 3, 2019 for allegedly planning to overthrow the regime of the Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). He was also released by the DSS on the same day after he was held for over four months in violation of two court orders.
Their release came as domestic and global outrage against the Federal Government’s acts of disregard to rule of law escalated with invasion of the Federal High Court in Abuja by operatives of the DSS to rearrest Sowore on December 6, 2019.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
