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Bad day for Sowore as Court refuses to grant application challenging his detention

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DSS confirms Sowore’s arrest, States reason

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, refused to grant the motion filed by Mr Omoyele Sowore, Convener, #RevolutionNow protests, challenging his detention for 45 days by the Department of State Security (DSS).

The convener of RevolutionNow, Sowore suffered another blow, as a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Evelyn Maha, declined his request to challenge his continued detention by the Department of State (DSS).

Another judge of the court, Justice Taiwo Taiwo had, on August 8, 2019 granted the DSS the permission to detain Sowore for 45 days in the first instance, following the security agency’s claim that he was involved in acts of terrorism and had plotted to topple the government, an allegation Sowore had since denied.

Rather than wait for the expiration of the 45 days granted the DSS, Sowore returned to the court, via a motion filed on August 9, 2019, demanding, among others, that the court vacates the order for his detention, made ex-parte.

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At the hearing of the case, the judge said she lacked the jurisdiction to hear the motion filed by Sowore.

Justice Maha said she lacked the powers to review the decision made by his colleague, noting that doing so will amount to sitting on an appeal over a decision passed by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

The judge also rejected an oral application for bail, made later by Sowore’s lead lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN). She said having earlier issued her ruling before Falana’s oral application, she was functus officio (could no longer deal with the issue).

Justice Maha asked parties to return to the court that earlier granted the detention order.

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