Thread by @SaharaReporters

Welcome to the LIVE UPDATE of the continuation of the trial of Sowore by the Nigerian government.
Recall that the government had reduced the charges against @YeleSowore from seven to two.
#SoworeVsFG
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.@YeleSowore and his co-defendant, @IamMandate have arrived the court in company of friends and well-wishers as well as the Nigerian media.

#SoworeVsFG
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Justice Ojukwu is seated and proceedings is about to commence

#SoworeVsFG
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Sowore and Bakare are now in the dock.

#SoworeVsFG
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#SoworeVsFG
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Christian Irabor announces appearances for the Prosecuting team.

#SoworeVsFG
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Christian Irabor and A.A Aliyu are representing the prosecution alongside 9 others

#SoworeVsFG
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Olumide Fusika is appearing with 3 others for the second defendant.
He is holding brief for Falana who is on his way to court but held up in traffic.

#SoworeVsFG
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Aliyu informed the court that according to the request by Justice Ojukwu to serve the defence with video CD's which will be used for the trial, the prosecution has carried out the court's order.

#SoworeVsFG
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He said the defence was served before now the CDs dated 4th of December contrary to what the defence told the court at the last hearing.

#SoworeVsFG
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Justice Ojukwu queried why the prosecution didn't produce the discs in court the last time.

#SoworeVsFG
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Fusika, in reply, accused the prosecution of hiding some facts.
He said, "unfortunately he is deceiving the court again. He served more than the CDs he listed. I don't know what he is hiding."
#SoworeVsFG
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Aliyu argues that the extra evidence were served as an addition. He said the defence denied service in totality

#SoworeVsFG
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Justice Ojukwu stated that the prosecution did not file all the documents needed and that is the court's stand.
#SoworeVsFG
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Aliyu reminded the court that they have a motion before the court filed on 5th March 2020, which is on the protection of witnesses.
#SoworeVsFG
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He said the counter affidavit to the motion was served on him this morning

Aliyu said the witnesses expressed fear as he informed the court that three of the witnesses are within the premises of the court.

#SoworeVsFG
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Trucks carrying men suspected to be DSS officials have just driven into the court premises.

Their reason for storming the court remains unknown.
#SoworeVsFG
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Fusika accused the prosecution counsel is being economical with the truth.

He said that he is surprised the prosecution is claiming it wants to mask its witnesses.
#SoworeVsFG
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He argued that the court had on December 5, 2019 discarded a move by the prosecution to mask its witnesses.

He said that the motion before the court to mask witnesses again is a move to deceive the court.
#SoworeVsFG
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He informed the judge that the motion was filed on March 9 but was served on the defence just yesterday (Tuesday) because the prosecution is playing games.
"They have turned the temple of justice into a nollywood arena, no substance."
#SoworeVsFG
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He said the defence vehemently opposed any adjournment adding that the defendant have been staying in hotel and paying bills and that Sowore has not seen his family since August 2019.
#SoworeVsFG
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He said the prosecution came to court with the entire Ministry of Justice but cannot prosecute an ordinary case of treasonable felony.
#SoworeVsFG
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Fusika urged the judge not to permit a further adjournment as the prosecution is not ready to go on with the case.
#SoworeVsFG
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Fusika said the prosecution already has 5 adjournment and if the court grants another adjournment, Justice Ojukwu has to award a lump sum to Sowore because the federal government has just taken a loan.
#SoworeVsFG
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He argued that this is a political case because the government paid two senior advocates to prosecute the case.

#SoworeVsFG
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In his response, Aliyu said the court is not a place of sentiments.

He said the prosecution is ready to proceed this morning until he found an issue in the affidavit deposed to by the defence that has nothing to do with the case.
#SoworeVsFG
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He said that they are not applying for adjournment but the issue in the counter affidavits is different from what they have filed in their motion.

#SoworeVsFG
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Aliyu said that Sowore's application for the court to prosecute the DSS officials who invaded the court and effected his rearrest have nothing to do with the case.

He said, "these are all lies".#SoworeVsFG
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Justice Ojukwu told Aliyu that the court invasion happened.

She added that the defence did not lie and it happened because she witnessed it and it is founded on truth.
#SoworeVsFG
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Justice Ojukwu said she is not interested in what the prosecution has to say but she is only swayed by facts and the law.

#SoworeVsFG
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The judge confirmed the issues raised in the counter affidavits of an attempt to shield the witnesses on December 5th 2019 as she stated that the prosecution does not need to protect the witnesses.

#SoworeVsFG
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The judge said, "I look at the name of the witnesses and they are the same. They do not require any protection."

#SoworeVsFG
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BREAKING: Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu has rejected the request by the Nigerian government to mask its witnesses in the case against Sowore.

The judge said the witnesses do not need any protection.

#SoworeVsFG
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Justice Ojukwu asks the prosecution to call the first witness.

#SoworeVsFG
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Silence in court as the first witness is prepared to be docked for cross examination.

#SoworeVsFG
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Femi Falana announces his appearance for Sowore as he apologises for his lateness to the court.

#SoworeVsFG
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The first witness has arrived

The oath is being administered on him.
#SoworeVsFG
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The first witness is Rasheed Olawale, Principal Staff Officer In charge of Survellance and Communication Intelligence.
#SoworeVsFG
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He was asked if he recognises any of the defendants, he affirms saying he recognises Omoyele Sowore, the first defendant.

He said on August 3, 2019 he was directed to arrest Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow
#SoworeVsFG
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"On that day as a team we move to Montana residence and Hotel, 16 Oduduwa Way, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

"Around 1 am when we got to the place, we met with the security guard who opened the entrance gate for us.

#SoworeVsFG
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"We introduced ourselves as staff of the SSS so we told him we need to see the receptionist."
#SoworeVsFG
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"On getting to the receptionist, we told him who we intend to pick him and he should take us to his room. That is after identifying ourselves.

"They took us to the room where Mr Omoyele Sowore was eventually arrested and we took him to the office.

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"After taking him to the office, he was subsequently transferred to the national office in Abuja, that is how I got to know him my lord."
#SoworeVsFG
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"We were directed to arrest him. Prior to that day, we received an intelligence report that Omoyele Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNow planned to carry out a revolution come August 5, 2019 by revolting alongside with his..."
#SoworeVsFG
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"Futher more, intelligence reports also revealed that Sowore was there with his associate or cohorts."

#SoworeVsFG
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Falana interjected the witness saying he has gone out of his written statement.

#SoworeVsFG
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"At Maryland, investigations revealed that they were at Maryland making Graffiti inscriptions on the Maryland Bridge tagged #RevolutionNow Days Of Rage, 5 August, 2019," the witness continued.
#SoworeVsFG
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"He was sensitizing people and passers-by on the need to be aware of the particular day and what they intend to do out of which he claims that the government of the day will cease to exist through procession."

#SoworeVsFG
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Falana interjected again, he said the witness is giving evidence outside his written statement.

#SoworeVsFG
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Falana asks the court to limit the witness to his statement which is the essence of Section 36 (6) adding that the witness in his statement never mentioned that Sowore attempted to overthrow the government and this is an attempted ambush.
#SoworeVsFG
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He said that allowing the witness to give evidence outside the statement is making the mockery of the trial.

#SoworeVsFG
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The prosecution replied Falana saying the law requires the summary to be served, which implies that not everything is contained in the statement.
#SoworeVsFG
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Aliyu asked the court to discountenance the objection raised by Falana saying that it would not lead to the miscarriage of justice as painted by the defence.

#SoworeVsFG
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By way of replying, Falana says the court has ruled in summaries when it was initially brought.
#SoworeVsFG
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He said the defence in the past has protested and request for full statements. He said the court ruled then that the defence be provided with full statements of witnesses.
#SoworeVsFG
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Falana referred the court to its bench ruling that the full witnesses statement be provided by the prosecution.

He said this witness can, therefore, not overrule this court.

#SoworeVsFG
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He said that the witness has just 4 paragraphs and that there is no reference to Maryland in Lagos, graphics and sensitising people.

#SoworeVsFG
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All he said in the statement was that he effected the arrest of the defendant and brought him to Abuja.

#SoworeVsFG
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Justice Ojukwu told the witness to sit

#SoworeVsFG
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A visibly angry Justice Ojukwu asks the prosecution to take in detail the statement of witnesses to fast-track the trial.

#SoworeVsFG
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The judge asked the prosecution to either reproduce the evidence and serve the defence adding that it is the component of the fair hearing.
#SoworeVsFG
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"Serve them these evidence and I don't know what is difficult there to do. Serve them all the evidence you want to rely on.

"That should not be difficult and that is the provision of the law," Ojukwu stated.
#SoworeVsFG
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Amnesty International is present at the court and observing the trial. @AmnestyNigeria
#SoworeVsFG
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The prosecution told the court that he would do the needful by reproducing the witnesses statements to enable it cover all what the evidence that the witnesses may want to give regarding the trial.
#SoworeVsFG
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The prosecution is requesting three weeks adjournment. He is proposing 1st, 2nd and 3rd of April.

#SoworeVsFG
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The court has granted 1st and 2nd of April for accelerated hearing.

#SoworeVsFG
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ANOTHER ADJOURNMENT

Case Adjourned To April 1 and 2.

#SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
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