Court grants DSS approval to detain Sowore for 45 days

Ebun Francis|

The federal high court in Abuja on Thursday granted the request of the Department of State Services (DSS) to detain Omoyele Sowore, one of the leaders of #RevolutionNow movement, for 45 days.

The secret police, who had accused the Sahara reporters publisher of threatening the peace and safety of the country, had on Tuesday filed a suit seeking the permission of the court to detain Sowore for 90 days to enable the agency properly investigate him.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo in his ruling held that he had to grant the application by the DSS, “only to the extent” of allowing the security agency to keep the respondent in custody for the 45 days to conclude its investigation.

The judge also ruled that although the DSS had asked for 90 days in line with section 27(1) of the terrorism act, the use of the word “may” in the section is a “directory” which gives the court the discretion to decide the number of days to give the applicants.

According to him, the DSS is at liberty to apply for a renewal if it needs more time to conclude the investigation at the expiration of the 45 days.

Sowore’s detention, Justice Taiwo ruled, is effective from August 8, and would be subject to renewal after September 21.

Sowore, one of the leaders of the #RevolutionNow movement was arrested in Lagos on Saturday and subsequently moved to Abuja by operatives of the DSS.