From Godwin Tsa Abuja
Ruling on the bail applications filed by Publisher of Sahara Repoters, Omoyele Sowore and four others  was on Friday stalled following the failure of the Nigeria Police Force to produce them in Court.
At the last adjourned date, Chief Magistrate Mabel Segun- Bello, ordered the transfer of Sowore and his co-Defendants- Juwon Sanyaolu, Peter Williams, Damilare Adenola, and Emmanuel Bulus-  from Kuje Correctional Center where they previously remanded in, to the Force Criminal Investigation Department situated at Garki Area 10, Abuja.
Although the matter was adjourned for ruling on their bail applications, however the defendants were not produced in court as the police claimed that the case file was handed to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), for further prosecution.
Counsel to the defendants, Marshall Abubakar, told Journalists at the premises of the Abuja Chief Magistrate Court,  Wuse Zone 2 that the DIG has further handed the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation on the instruction of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).
Sowore, who was the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), in the last general election and publisher of an online news outlet, Sahara Reporters, was arrested on New Year’s Eve for leading a protest against bad governance in the country.
 
Police had in a three-count charge it entered before the court, alleged that the Defendants were arrested with placards that called for a violent revolution against President Muhammadu Buhari
The charge, to which they all pleaded not guilty bordered on criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and their alleged attempt to incite a public disturbance.
Before his arrest, the activist sent out a series of tweets calling on Nigerians to join him on a protest against the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
He had tweeted, “How about a crossover protest/uprising tonight? Anyone willing to participate? Pick up a candle and a placard showing your grievances against the regime; let’s upload our short videos and photos across our social media platforms. Let’s welcome the regime to a resolute 2021!