DSS: Rights group calls on FG to order release of Sowore

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*Omoyele Sowore

(Nigeria) A non governmental organisation, the Centre for Law and Civil Culture, has called on President Muhammad Buhari, to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to ensure that the Department of State Security, DSS, release Omoyele Sowore, forthwith.  
In a statement on Tuesday by the organisation's Executive Secretary, Mr Abdulganeey Imran and Deborah Okpanachi, Legal  Adviser, it said "The continued detention of Sowore by the Department of State Security, DSS,  having perfected and fulfilled his bail condition as directed by the  Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja, can at best, be described as an affront to the Judiciary and the rule of law.
"The order/directive of  any court stands and must be readily obeyed.  Disobedience to the order of any court cannot be justified under any circumstance.
"It is  imperative to state that section 161 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act ,2015 gives absolute discretion to Judges to admit any person, depending on the circumstance of the case, to bail, even where capital offence that attracts death penalty is allegedly committed.
"Therefore, Having met and fulfilled the bail conditions as stated by the judge, The DSS has no excuse  keeping Omoyele Sowore further  in its custody.  
"It is on this basis that CLCC call on president Muhammad Buhari, the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice to ensure the DSS to release Ssowore with immediate effect."
The organisation also appeal to the Nigerian Bar  Association, NBA, the International Organisations and other civil society group to uphold judicial independence as the refusal of DSS/Federal Government to comply with the directive of the honorable court to release Sowore is a serious threat to the independence of judiciary and  an invitation to anarchy.

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