The Federal Government has slammed seven-count money laundering
and conspiracy charges against detained activist and convener of
the RevolutionNow Protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, before the Abuja
Division of the Federal High Court.
Equally cited as a defendant in the charge marked FHC/
ABJ/CR/235/2019, a copy of which was sighted by TheNigerialawyer
last night is one Olawale Adebayo Bakare (aka Mandate).
The charges were signed on behalf of the Attorney-General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), by
Aminu Alilu, a Chief State Counsel in the Department of Public
Prosecutions of the Federation, the Federal Ministry of
Justice.
The charges were filed a day before the expiration of the
detention order of the Federal High Court in Abuja permitting the
Department of State Service to keep the activist for 45 days.
The detention order elapses on September 21.
In the statement of offence that was attached to count-one of
the charge, FG alleged that the defendants committed conspiracy to
commit treasonable felony, contrary to section 516 of the criminal
Code Act Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and
punishable under the same section of the Act.
“That you Omoyele Stephen Sowore, Male Adult of No 1 Mosafejo
Street, Kiribo, Ese-Odo LGA, Ondo State, Olawale Adebayo Bakare
{aka Mandate} Male, Adult of Olaiya Arca, Oshogbo LGA Osun State
and others at large, under the eagis of Coalition for Revolution
(CORE), sometimes in August 2019 in Abuja, Lagos and other parts of
Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did
conspired amongst yourselves to stage a revolution campaign on 5th
day of August 2019 tagged #RevolutionNow” aimed at removing the
President and Commander –in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria during his term of office otherwise
known than by constitutional means”.
FG further accused Sore of committing “cyberstalking”, contrary
to section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention)
Act, 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act.
He was charged with legal transfer of funds contrary to section
15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and
punishable under the same section of the Act.
FG alleged that Sowore had on April 2, at Lagos and Abuja,
transferred by means of swift wire, the sum of $19, 975 from his
United Bank of Africa Plc Account No. 3002246104 credited by City
Bank, New York City, USA, into Sahara Reporters Media Foundations
GTB Account No. 0424048298 with the aim of concealing or disguising
the illicit origin of the funds,
It alleged that he also transferred $16, 975 from the same UBA
Account credited to him by LANDRUM of 7e 146 W 29thStreeet, New
York, NY10001, USA, via City Bank Plc, the aim to conceal the
illicit origin of the funds.
The charge, which was endorsed by the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, was
signed by a senior state counsel, Mr. A.M. Alilu.
FG has already lined-up six witnesses against the defendants,
including bank officials from UBA and GTB.
The detained activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, was the
presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the
last general election, has been in custody of the Departemenmt of
State Service, DSS, since Agust 2 when he was arrested.
The Court had granted DSS leave to detain him for 45 days to
enable the agency to conclude its investigations.
The court gave the agency the leave to apply for extension of
the detention order after September 21.
DSS had told the court that Sowore got foreign sponsorship to
wage war against the administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari.
It tendered evidence to prove that Sowore held meetings with
both the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra,
Nnamdi Kanu and members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of
Nigeria, IMN.
Subscribe ToNairalaw News!
Read more dss-charges-sowore-for-treasonable-felony-cyberstalking/