Col. Sambo Dasuki and Omoyele Sowore have finally regained their freedom from Department of States Services, DSS, custody after the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, ordered that the two men be released in line with court orders.
Both men breathed once again the sweet air of freedom, Tuesday, Christmas eve after having been in detention for four years and for Dasuki and about five months for Sowore.
While Dasuki has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since December 2015, Sowore was rearrested on December 6, barely 24 hours after he was released from custody that lasted over four months.
Both have been kept in detention despite court orders ordering their release.
It will be recalled that sequel to the wide condemnation both by national and international organisations that followed the rearrest of Mr. Sowore after being granted bail by the justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the Attorney General had then decided to take on the case from the DSS.
His statement reads, “The Office of the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation has reviewed the pending criminal charges against the duo of Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and Omoyele Sowore.
“Whilst the Federal High Court has exercised its discretion in granting bail to the Defendants in respect of the charges against them, I am also not unmindful of the right of the Complainant/Prosecution to appeal or further challenge the grant of bail by the court having regards to extant legal provisions, particularly Section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
“However, my Office has chosen to comply with the court orders while considering the pursuit of its rights of appeal and/or review of the order relating to the bail as granted or varied by the courts.
“In line with the provisions of Section 150(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and in compliance with the bail granted to Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) (as recently varied by the Court of Appeal) and the bail granted to Omoyele Sowore, I have directed the State Security Services to comply with the order granting bail to the Defendants and effect their release.
“The two Defendants are enjoined to observe the terms of their bail and refrain from engaging in any act that is inimical to public peace and national security as well as their ongoing trial, which will run its course in accordance with the laws of the land.”