There was pandemonium in Abuja on Monday, December 23, as Civil society organisations, (CSOs) clashed over calls for the enforcement of Omoyele Sowore, the convener of RevolutionNow Movement, and other citizens unlawfully detained by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The Herald gathered that several activists were injured, journalists covering the rally were harassed and their cameras were forcefully hijacked by hoodlums who infiltrated the mass action.
It was learnt that activists from Amnesty International, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Programme (SERAP) and other groups stormed the premises of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for a freedom rally to impress on the commission to call for an end to the reign of impunity in the country.
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Few minutes into the mass action, civil groups who believed the action of DSS is in the best interest of the nation also stormed the scene for a solidarity rally in support of the federal government and the security agencies.
Meanwhile, The Herald reported that the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Abubakar Malami SAN, disclosed that he was never summoned by the Federal High Court over the continued detention of activist Omoyele Sowore.
In a statement sent to journalists on Wednesday, December 18, his by media aide, Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Malami said: “the issues that surrounded the subject matter borders on the application filed by Sowore’s lawyer on the 15th day of November 2019.
“the court adjourned the matter to the 23rd day of January 2020 for the hearing of the substantive matter. “Surprisingly, on Tuesday the 17th day of December 2019, the Applicant’s Counsel adopted an ex-parte application filed on the 15th day of November 2019 before Hon. Justice I E. Ekwo.
“However, the court, being aware of the fact that parties have joined issues, ordered that the deputy chief registrar (litigation) shall inform the 1st & 2nd respondents of the case and the next adjourned date.”
He further clarified that the court order was only to bring to his notice and the Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS) to take notice that upon the motion ex-parte filed on November 15th that applicants want an expedited hearing of the matter.