Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the convener of ‘RevolutionNow’ protests, Omoyele Sowore.
Mr Sowore is seeking an order for his unconditional release from the custody of the State Security Services.
On 6th December Mr Sowore was rearrested by the operatives of the DSS barely 24 hours of being released from the agency’s custody.
This prompted the filing of a suit against the DSS.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, sitting as the vacation judge of the federal high court ruled that he could not hear Mr Sowore’s case in view of the various publications by Sahara reporters, a media outfit owned by the applicant, wherein he was accused taking a bribe in a case to influence the outcome.
The case in question is the trial of a former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, who is now being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before another judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang.
Justice Mohammed said that the reports by Sahara Reporters in 2016 and 2019 forced him to withdraw from the ex-governor’s trial.
He said the situation put him in a position whereby if he ruled in favour of Mr Sowore, it could be perceived as having been blackmailed by Sowore to rule, and that in the event that he ruled against the activist, he could be perceived as being vengeful”
He then ordered that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment to another judge.
Omoyele Sowore along side Olawale Bakare, is facing charges of treasonable felony filed by the DSS against them.
