The Federal Government has announced that it will be dropping the treasonous felony prosecution that was brought against Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, disclosed the development in a document. The paper was addressed to the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria and was dated February 15, 2024.
The government stated in the paper that it also intended to drop the charges against Olawale Bakare, better known as Mandate, who was Sowore’s co-defendant.
The document read, “Between Federal Republic of Nigeria – (complainant) and Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare aka Mandate (defendants).
“Notice of discontinuance. By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Aet 2015 and all other powers enabling me on that behalf, I, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue Charge No FHC/ABI/CR/235/2019.
“Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
On Wednesday, February 14, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court located in Abuja, made a threat to dismiss the case related to treasonable felonies, which has been ongoing for more than four years.
In addition, the judge asked the Federal Government’s prosecution team to gather their thoughts after the FG’s attorneys failed to clearly state their case in court on Wednesday and in November 2023.
