The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government has made known its intention to halt the trial of politician and media owner Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate.
According to reports, the federal government conveyed its decision to the Federal High Court in Abuja through a notice of discontinuance dated February 14.
The notice, filed on February 15th by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), outlined the government’s intention to withdraw from the prosecution.
It stated: “By virtue of the power conferred on me under Section 174 (1) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, Section 107 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN intend to discontinue charge No: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019.”
It’s worth recalling that Sowore and Bakare were arraigned in 2019 before the Federal High Court in Abuja for organizing a protest rally in Abuja, dubbed “Revolution Now.”
The decision to discontinue the trial marks a significant development in the legal proceedings against the defendants, signaling a potential shift in the government’s stance towards their case.