Pro-democracy activist and Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has declared his intention to file a lawsuit of N1 billion against the Federal Government and Department of State Services as compensation for all his loss during his “confinement”.
The pro-democracy activist made the declaration in a phone interview with The PUNCH on Thursday in Abuja.
Earlier, the Federal Government had declared its intention to discontinue the treasonable felony case instituted against Sowore.
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The development was made known in a document by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
The document, dated February 15, 2024, was addressed to the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division.
In the document, the government disclosed its intention to also discontinue the case against Sowore’s co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, aka Mandate.
The document read: “Between Federal Republic of Nigeria – (complainant) and Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare aka Mandate (defendants).
“Notice of discontinuance. By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Aet 2015 and all other powers enabling me on that behalf, I, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue Charge No FHC/ABI/CR/235/2019.
“Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
Sowore was arrested by DSS operatives at midnight on August 3, 2019, two days before a planned #RevolutionNow protest, tagged: “Days of Rage,” convened by the pro-democracy activist and slated for August 5, 2019.
Following his arrest, he was arraigned by the DSS on several occasions and was later released following sustained pressure.
Sowore was being legally represented in court by the law firm of pro-democracy and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN).
Speaking on the lawsuit of N1 billion, Sowore noted that it is a compensation for the cost of time and resources, mental and financial trauma caused to his person, businesses, wife and children, and extended family, and the alleged assassination of his younger brother, Olajide Sowore, in 2021.
The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress reiterated that he would sue the FG both in Nigeria and the United States for all the trauma and pains that were inflicted on him while he was detained and later confined within Nigeria for about five years.
Sowore said: “I’m not supposed to be congratulated because the Federal Government has now decided to discontinue the treasonable felony case against me.
“I didn’t commit any crime, they only decided to waste my time and the resources of the country.
“But we’re not giving up. I will sue the Federal Government of Nigeria and the DSS for N1 billion as compensation for the cost of time and resources, mental and financial trauma that they caused my person, my businesses, my wife and children, and my extended family, and also for the assassination of my brother, Olajide Sowore during this five-year period that I was abducted, detained, and now confined to Nigeria while they seized my passport.”
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