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Concerned Nigerians in strong terms condemn the stringent bail conditions imposed on Sahara Reporters’ founder and Former Presidential candidate of AAC, Omoyele Sowore.
It will be recalled that Mr. Omoyele Sowore earlier today, was granted bail by the Federal High Court with some stringent bail conditions which state: The publisher and former Presidential candidate must not travel out of Abuja, the Nation’s capital and N100 million and two sureties. One of the sureties must own landed property and a
deposit of N50 million.
These conditions are not just callous but an attempt to keep detaining Sowore and deny him of his fundamental right of movement.
It makes mockery of our judicial system if the said offense allegedly committed by Omoyele Sowore would attract such conditions while the politicians who looted and still looting our commonwealth will be given a light bail.
We understand that it is the nature of the offence that determines the bail that is given to a defendant, but in Sowore’s case, it is ridiculous and laughable. Bail must be exercised judiciously and judicially In order not to undermine the right of the defendant. Sowore as explicitly spelt out in Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution is still presumed innocent of all the trump up charges until proven otherwise.
It is ironical and risible that the former Amnesty boss, Brig.- Gen. Tarelah Paul Boroh (retd), accused of an alleged fraud to the tune of N974,768,466 (N964m) was granted bail with just N2m while Sowore, a prisoner of conscience and a man at the fore front for a better Nigeria is being given an unattainable conditions of N100m and for a surety to deposit N50 million.
The Buhari’s led government has turned a blind eye to the problems facing Nigerians. Instead of trying to tackle the problems they are running away from them by arresting activists who are talking about those problems.
We are saddened that 59 years after, Nigeria’s current reality is a failing and reckless executive with a pushover judiciary and a namby-pamby legislative arm that is willing to do the biddings of the executive.
It is unthinkable that a court of law while granting bail to the defendant will give a condition that violates his fundamental human right to freedom of expression as guaranteed under section 39 of our constitution by saying that he must not grant interview or speak to the press. The court went further to violate section 41 of our constitution which guarantees freedom of movement for citizens by restricting his movement within Abuja. This travesty of justice must be condemned by all and sundry.
God bless Nigeria.
Signed:
Comrade Adeyanju Deji.
FOR: Concerned Nigerians Group
