Nigeria

Sowore: I can’t order DSS to release activist - Malami

Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at 9:57 AM by Onyirioha Nnamdi

- Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami has spoken about his inability to effect the release of Omoyele Sowore

- Malami said that he cannot order the Department of State Service (DSS) to release Sowore

- The AGF said that this is so because the activist's issue is a court case and that he cannot do anything contrary to the rule of law

Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation and the minister of justice, has responded to calls for him to use his office to release Omoyele Sowore.

Top on the list of those who are asking for the release of Sowore from the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) is Femi Falana, a renowned human rights lawyer, Daily Trust reports.

However, Malami, in his reaction to the calls, said that his hands are already tied because it is already a court case.

Sowore: I can’t order DSS to release activist - Malami — Malami said that he cannot order the Department of State Service (DSS) to release Sowore.
Source: UGC

Speaking through his spokesman, Umar Gwandu, the AGF said that his office is guided by the principles of the rule of law and that he cannot take a unilateral move without the approval of the court.

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He said: “When parties submit their issues for determination to a court of law, they lack exclusivity of decision over such issues without recourse to court.”

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Falana had called on Malami to ask the DSS to release Sowore.

Falana said a team of lawyers had visited the DSS to get Sowore released but were advised to go through the AGF.

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“Following the announcement of your decision to take over the case of Federal Republic of Nigeria vs Omoyele Sowore & Another, two members of the legal defence team visited the headquarters of the State Security Service on December 13, 2019, to demand the immediate release of Sowore from illegal custody," Falana said in a letter dated Friday, December 13.

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