If Sowore Is Charged Over Call For Revolution, Buhari Will Be My First Witness In Court - Falana

Senior Advicate of Nigeria, Femi Fala has remarked that charging Omoyele Sowore to court over his call for a revolution will not bode well for the federal government as he will be inclined to invite someone within the government's circle to testify in what he calls a big mistake.

Sowore, the key convener of the controversial #RevolutionNow protest which was supposedly informed by bad governance in Nigeria, has been detained since last Saturday by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The intelligence service are alleging that the mass demonstrations which started Monday, August 5, constitute serious threat to public peace and safety.

More than 56 protesters were arrested nationwide during the first day of the protests including in Lagos where security agents faced protesters with violent resistance.

Scooper confirms Wednesday morning that six persons who partook in the  Monday protest have been arraigned before the Ebute-Metta Magistrates’ Court by the Lagos State Criminal Intelligence and Information Department (SCIID) Panti.

Falana, while speaking Tuesday, during an event facilitated by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said Sowore had called him from the DSS detention facility in Abuja to notify him that he might be charged soon.

The renowned human rights lawyer, who Monday secured a bail for shiites leader El-Zakyzaky, though did not directly mention President Muhammadu Buhari’s name, said his first witness in the Sowore's case, if charged, would be someone in government who in 2011 also called for a revolution.

Then a presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Buhari had called for a revolution in Nigeria – although through an electoral process.

Sowore, according to Falana, refused to write a statement, insisting the DSS allow him to speak with his lawyer. 

“I do hope that the government will not be stupid to charge Sowore. In fairness to them (DSS), they gave him a telephone to phone me. Of course I knew they were monitoring the phone, and I told him I hope they won’t charge you, because if they do, some of the people in government will be our witnesses,” he said. 

“You know why? One of them, I won’t mention his name. In 2011, he asked Nigerians to learn from the Egyptian revolution and be ready for a revolution in Nigeria. So, he will be my first witness. 

“The late Chief Gani Fawehinmi and four other people were charged with treasonable felony by the Ibrahim Babangida junta. I was one of them. We were detained in Kuje prison for two months. We were taken to the court, and what was the offence? I think we went beyond Sowore. We posted thousands of posters across the country, that Babangida must go. That was the treasonable felony.” 

Falana, who stood in defence alongside Fawehinmi, said they argued that the then military president did not come to office through constitutional means. 

He added that those in government now harassing Nigerians with treason would someday, too, be tried for treason. 

It is not clear if Sowore will be charged as Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson is yet to respond to messages seeking development on the matter.