- SSS: Sowore Will Remain With us Until We Are Served
The State Security Service (SSS) on Thursday said the RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, who was granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, was still in custody as his legal team had yet to serve the SSS a copy of the court order granting Omoyele Sowore bail.
Dr. Peter Afunnaya, the SSS spokesperson disclosed this during a telephone interview on Thursday.
Afunnaya said, “We have not received the court order. And his (Sowore’s) counsel is a very senior member of the bar and he knows the process to follow; this process has not been followed.”
Mr. Femi Falana (Sowore’s legal counsel), however, refuted SSS statement, saying he personally served the order and the notice of compliance.
“First of all, their lawyer was in court. And he heard the order when it was made. As a legal practitioner, he had an obligation to inform his client. Secondly, since Sowore was to be released to me, I have been going to the SSS office personally since Tuesday.
“We were not directed to serve them. But we did that for the avoidance of doubt. We submitted his passports, got the affidavit of compliance and I personally served them. I also sent the copies to the SSS DG through his phone line, because I have his personal phone line.
“We were there for hours. The head of the legal department pleaded with me to return today (Thursday). When I returned, they locked the SSS gates against me,” Mr Falana said.
The lawyer further stated the necessary information indicating compliance were reported by both local and international media, saying the least a truly law abiding institution would do was to send its lawyers to verify the reports.
“I’m not sure the person who is making this statement has the authorisation of his principals. We have filed the form 48 regarding the contempt of court. And in that form, the court order was also included.
“The SSS has a duty to comply with this order and not only this one, but every other order regarding the liberty of Nigerians, because this is a constitutional democracy,” Mr Falana said.
