A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday struck out the treasonable felony charges against the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in a notice addressed to the court, expressed his intention to discontinue the case against Sowore.
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Some operatives of the Department of State Services had arrested Sowore in the build-up to the #RevolutionNow protest, accusing him of seeking to overthrow the then incumbent government on August 3, 2019.
30 days later, the apex government filed seven charges of fraud, cyberstalking, and treasonable felony against Sowore on September 20, 2019.
However, the FG re-arraigned Sowore and Bakare on two charges of treasonable felony on February 13, 2020.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in November 2023 threatened to strike out the case if the prosecution failed to put its house in order
However, at the proceedings on Monday, an Assistant Chief State Counsel, Federal Ministry of Justice, A.R. Tahir, urged the court to approve the notice of discontinuance by the AGF, adding that the charges against the defendants be struck out.
Speaking, counsel for the defendants, Femi Falana, confirmed receiving the notice and appreciated the AGF for his action.
Falana said, “To that extent, the matter ought to be dismissed. I wish to appreciate the position of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, for taking a hint from this honourable court that this matter would be dismissed even if the heavens will fall.”
He urged the court to order the DSS to return Sowore’s phone and other items seized from him and Bakare.
Falana said, “In view of the withdrawal, we urge the court to order the State Security Services to return the telephones of Sowore and Bakare, the sum of N10,000 seized from him, while his international passport as well as the title deed submitted for his bail in the court registry be returned.”
Ruling on Monday, Nwite struck out the charges and discharged the defendants.
He also ordered that all items seized from the defendants be returned.