FG Orders Release of Sambo Dasuki and Omoyele Sowore

The Federal Government has ordered the release of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and publisher/convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore.

Abubakar Malami, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), disclosed this in a statement released today Tuesday December 24th. He said the decision to release them was in compliance with the bail granted the two by the court.

The statement reads

“The office of the honourable Attorney General of the Federation has reviewed the pending criminal charges against the duo of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) And Omoyele Sowore.

Whilst the Federal High Court has exercised its discretion in granting bail to the Defendants in respect of the charges against them, I am also not unmindful of the right of the Complainant/Prosecution to appeal or further challenge the grant of bail by the court having regards to extant legal provisions, particularly Section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

However, my office has chosen to comply with the court orders while considering the pursuit of its rights of appeal and/or review of the order relating to the bail as granted or varied by the courts.

“in line with the provisions of Sections 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and in compliance with the bail granted to Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) (as recently varied by the Court of Appeal) and the bail granted to Omoyele Sowore, I have directed the State Security Services to comply with the order granting bail to the Defendants and effect their release.

The two defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial which will run its course in accordance with the laws of the land.

I wish to reiterate again the utmost regard of my office for the entire judicial structure of Nigeria.

This administration remains unrelenting in deepening the rule of law and the administration of justice in general.”

Dasuki who was the National Security Adviser under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, was arraigned in court by the Buhari government for allegedly masterminding the $2 billion arms deal. He has been in detention even after the courts have granted him bail.

Sowore was arrested in August this year and arraigned in court for treason, money laundering and cyberstalking President Buhari. On September 24th, he was granted bail by the Federal High Court Abuja, on the condition that he surrender his international passport within forty-eight hours. He was released on December 5th after meeting his bail conditions but rearrested inside a Federal High court on December 6th.

The US, UK, EU governments have at various times, condemned the prolonged detention of both men despite the courts granting them bail.