Sowore was released by the secret police alongside his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare popularly known as Mandate, few hours after a ruling by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the DSS to set them free within 24 hours.

The lawmaker described the 48-year-old’s release in compliance with the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, after more than four months in detention, as a big relief for the entire country and a welcome development.

He added that Sowore’s ordeal and detention by the DSS had tainted the image of the Nigerian Government on human rights and respect for the rule of law and called on Nigerians to stand up against any anti-people policies of the government that may stifle their rights to free speech.

The Federal High Court Judge issued a notice of consequences of disobedience of court order which is also known as form 48 on the DSS, stated that the DSS DG will be found guilty of contempt of court if he refuses to comply with the court order on release of Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare.

The notice reads “Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the federal high court of Justice, Abuja made on the 6th November 2019, which ordered you to release the defendants/applicants in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019 forthwith, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison. A copy of the said order of court earlier served on you is hereby annexed for your on the spot reference. This court has been informed that even as at today, Tuesday the 12th November 2019 you are yet to comply with the lawful order of the Federal High Court by refusing to release the defendants/applicants namely: Omoyele Stephen Sowore and Olawale Adebayo Bakare (Mandate) in your custody. You are hereby directed to comply with the court order forthwith or you will be guilty of contempt of court.”

He’s to be remanded in DSS custody alongside his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare as Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu fixed Friday, October 4th for the hearing of their bail application.

Sowore and his co-defendant were arraigned today on seven counts of treasonable felony and other sundry offences instituted against them by the DSS. They pleaded not guilty to the seven counts when read to them.

After the defendants took their pleas, the defence lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), urged the court to allow Sowore to be allowed to continue with the bail earlier granted him by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, on September 24. He pleaded that the second defendant be granted fresh bail, but the judge said since the bail earlier granted Sowore was not predicated on the charges on which he was arraigned on Monday, a fresh bail had to be granted to him.