Sowore's eventual release came hours after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave the secret police 24 hours to release him.
Pro-democracy activist, Omoyele Sowore, has been released from the detention of the Department of State Services where he has been held for 125 days following his arrest on August 3.
Sowore's eventual release came hours after Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja gave the secret police 24 hours to release him.
The court had granted bail to Sowore on two different occasions but the DSS refused to let him go.
The DSS filed a seven-count-charge bordering on treasonable felony, cyberstalking among other offences.
The agency had earlier obtained an ex-parte order allowing it hold Sowore for 45 days while it investigated the charges preferred against him.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who granted the ex-parte order, later ordered the DSS to release the pro-democracy activist.
He ordered that Sowore be released to his lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN).
However, rather than release him, the DSS hurriedly arraigned him before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the same court. [story_link align="left"]76556[/story_link]
Not comfortable with Sowore's prolonged detention, his lawyer filed a 19-ground application asking the court to set aside the ex-parte order.
The case was assigned to Justice Nkweonye Maha of the same court.
Maha however, declined to hear Sowore's motion on August 28 on the ground that she did not have jurisdiction to review the decision of Justice Taiwo, who granted the ex-parte order.
She declined all applications made by Falana and sent the case back to the administrative judge.
Falana, again filed another motion on September 13, asking the court to grant his client bail on self-recognition or upon any condition the court may reasonably deem appropriate.
Following the arraignment of Sowore and Bakare before Justice Ojukwu, the court granted him bail but with stringent conditions.
Justice Ojukwu granted Sowore N100m bail with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties must have landed property within the court's jurisdiction and evidence of tax clearance.
One of the sureties must deposit N50m in the account of the court as security.
Justice Ojukwu also barred him from travelling out of Abuja during his trial.
She granted Bakare a N50m bail with one surety in like sum, adding that the surety must have landed property in Abuja. [story_link align="left"]76507[/story_link]
Bakare popularly known as Mandate was also restricted from travelling out of Oshogbo, Osun State, during his trial.
Falana soon applied for the variation of the terms and asked the court for leniency.
On October 21, the trial judge set aside the previous conditions of N50m security deposits by one of the sureties.
She also reduced the N50m bail of the second defendant to N20m.
Justice Ojukwu however, refused to vary all other bail conditions.
When the matter came up for trial on November 6, Ojukwu issued a release warrant ordering the release of the activists from DSS detention.
Again the secret police refused to let them go.
The DSS in one of its press statements, asked Sowore's sureties to come forward for verification. [story_link align="left"]76508[/story_link]
In another statement, the service said that Sowore may be knocked down by a moving vehicle if released by the agency.
At the resumption of hearing on Thursday, December 5, Justice Ojukwu lambasted the DSS for flouting orders court orders.
The visibly angry judge awarded N100,000 as damages against DSS for disobeying her order.
She also ordered the release of the activists from DSS custody within 24 hours.
Trial of the case against Sowore and Bakare continues on Friday at the same court.