The Nigerian government has decided to withdraw its case against the convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Omoyele Sowore, who was facing allegations of treason.
A Notice of Discontinuance, officially stamped by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, and signed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was issued on Wednesday.
The notice stated that the complainant, the Federal Government of Nigeria, intended to discontinue the case, exercising the power conferred under relevant constitutional and legal provisions.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had warned that he might strike out the treason charge if the government was not prepared to proceed with the case, which had lingered for five years.
The trial, scheduled for that day, faced delays due to the introduction of a new prosecution lawyer, A.Y Tahir, who sought an adjournment to familiarize herself with the case after the initial lawyer had been transferred.
The defense objected, asserting that the prosecution had sought multiple adjournments, leading to suspicions of intentional delay.
The judge, dissatisfied with the excuses, demanded the production of the second defendant on the next adjourned date or insisted on the prosecution of the first defendant. The case was adjourned to April 15, 2024.
Sowore’s supporters, present at the court, called for an end to what they deemed a sham trial, maintaining that Sowore had committed no legally recognizable offense.
Human rights crusader Deji Adeyanju and Ogochukwu Okoro, Secretary Board of Trustees African Action Congress, stood in solidarity with Sowore during the proceedings.
