#EndPoliceExtortion: Femi Falana Backs Sowore’s Refusal of ‘Illegal’ Bail Condition

As the convener of the RevolutionNow movement Omoyele Sowore continue to maintain his refusal to comply with the “illegal” bail conditions set by the Nigerian Police Force, renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana has backed his decision, emphasizing that adhering to such conditions would effectively undermine Sowore’s integrity and that it is also illegal.

This was made known in the recent update Sowore provided via his social media handles that contains the response of his lawyer, Femi Falana. Sowore explained, “I refuse to participate in any arrangement that undermines my personal integrity.”

The controversial bail conditions required the production of a level 16 civil servant and the surrender of Sowore’s international passport.

Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, addressed the matter, stating that such conditions have been previously declared illegal by the Court of Appeal in the case of Dasuki V. Director-General, S.S.S.

Sowore added, “Below is also the response of my lawyer, Femi Falana SAN to the ridiculous request of the Nigeria Police.

Dear Hon DIG,

Thanks for reducing the bail condition of Mr. Omoyele Sowore to a surety of level 16.

However, i wish to point out that such bail condition has been declared illegal by the Court of Appeal in the case of Dasuki V. Director-General, S.S.S. [2020]10 NWLR PT.1731 PG. 136-143 where Adah JCA (now JSC) held as follows:

“Let me quickly say that of concern it is to us that as a court we must be ready and sensitive enough not to allow or do anything that will run foul of the law. The issue of involving civil servants or Public Officers in the Public Service of the Federation and the State in bail of people accused of criminal offences has never been the practice in Nigeria or any part of the civilized world. It was an oversight on our part to allow it in. Our Civil and Public Service Rules do not have any room for it. Expecting a Level 16 Servant to own property worth N100,000,000, will be running counter to the Public Service Rules and by extension the war against corruption. It is in this respect that I will act ex debito justitiae to ensure that the aspect of involving serving Public Servant below the status of Level 16 Officer in either the state or Public Service of the Federation or any of its agencies be removed and I so order.”

Earlier, Sowore said the Deputy Inspector General of Police of the Federal Intelligence Department (FID) at the Nigeria Police Force informed him that he had instructed his personnel to grant him bail.

According to him, the bail is to be granted pending the conclusion of the investigation into his case.

The police are investigating Sowore for “resisting and obstructing public officers, disobedience to lawful order, acts intended to cause grievous harm or prevent arrest, compelling action by intimidation, reckless & negligent acts, refusal to assist public servant and cyberstalking in which your name featured, prominently”.

This follows his invitation for questioning over a viral video he recorded, highlighting alleged extortion by police officers on the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Access Road in Lagos.

In a previous post on his X account, Sowore said, “The DIG of FID, Dasuki Galandachi at the Nigeria Police Force in Abuja had just informed me that he has instructed his personnel to grant me bail, pending the conclusion of the “investigation”.

“I have also advised the DIG that in accepting “bail”, I will not agree to conditions that compromise my innocence, dignity, and integrity. If such unreasonable conditions are imposed, I will choose to remain in detention until I am charged to court, even then I know that there is no crime defined or to be investigated it is just the impunity that has become the hallmark of the @PoliceNG hierarchy.”

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