THE Department of State Services, DSS on Thursday clarified that it was still keeping the publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, in its custody as the Service was yet to be served with a valid Court order for his bail
Tribune Online reports that the Spokesperson of the Service, Dr Peter Afunanya, made the clarification in a reply to its enquiry on why Sowore was yet to be released on bail barely after Court’s directive to that effect.
Dr Afunanya pointed out that the DSS as a law-abiding agency has the highest regard for the laws of the land and would not do anything to undermine law and order.
According to him, “We have not received the court order. And his (Sowore’s) counsel is a very senior member of the bar and he knows the process to follow; this process has not been followed
“Not until that is done, there is nothing we can do, we must due process in every we are doing, we expect his legal team too to follow due process”.
It will be recalled that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had, on Tuesday, granted Sowore bail and directed that he be released to his Counsel, Chief Femi Falana who should produce him before the Court for a proper trial.
Sowore, who had been in the custody of the DSS since August 3, 2019, for allegedly calling for “revolution” through the protest that was scheduled for September 5.
The judge had dismissed DSS’ objection in granting him bail on the condition that he deposit his international passport in the registry of the court, which he did through his lawyers on Wednesday.
Chief Falan had on Wednesday vowed to continue to occupy the Headquarters of the DSS in Abuja until his Client was released by the Service.