UPDATED: Sowore: Falana Puts DSS Witness On The Spot As Operative Admits RevolutionNow Not Violent

A prosecution witness by the name Rasheed Olawale (a Department of State Service official), on Friday, admitted before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, that Omoyele Sowore’s RevolutionNow campaign did not lead to violence in 2019.

Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters, is being prosecuted by the federal government on an amended charge of treasonable felony.

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the witness, Olawale had told Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, that Sowore tried to overthrow the government through procession.

But during today’s (Friday) cross-examination, Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana SAN, asked the witness whether there was any violence during the RevolutionNow campaign in 2019.

His response was ‘no’.

Below are parts of the prosecution witness’ responses to Falana:

Falana – Were you part of the team that arrested the first Defendant on August 3, 2019, in the midnight? Why was he not arrested during the day?

Witness – Yes…because we’ve already identified where he stays and he was not stationary.

Falana – Where was he arrested?

Witness – Montana Hotel Lagos.

Falana- Are you aware that he was subjected to torture?

Witness- My lord, the first Defendant was never tortured.

Falana – Did you allow him to contact his lawyer as requested, when you arrested him?

Witness- I don’t know, I was just part of the team that arrested him and handed him over to Department Of State Service, authorities in Lagos.

Falana: Do you know whether anybody engaged in violence to your knowledge during RevolutionNow?

Witness: To my knowledge, nobody engaged in violence as of that time.

Falana: Was there a revolution in 2019 in any part of Nigeria?

Witness- …No.

Falana – Are you aware that President Muhammadu Buhari called for a revolution in 2011? Are you aware that General Buhari overthrew Shehu Shagari?

Witness- “…I’m not aware. I was a teenager then.”

As the drilling of the witness was concluded, the prosecution counsel, Bagudu Sani, called for an adjournment so as to bring other witnesses.

He also prayed the court to shield his witnesses and also reduce the number of persons that come for the proceedings.

In her ruling, Justice Ojukwu noted that the prosecution witness and counsel did not show the court how Sowore’s campaign was violent to require shielding witnesses.

However, she ruled that in the next sitting, only accredited press, parties and counsels involved in the matter would be allowed in court and that the Covid-19 social distancing protocols would be observed.

Subsequently, she adjourned to January 25, February 4 and 5, for the continuation of trial.