Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to jail the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Yusuf Bichi.
The judge gave the warning in Abuja on Monday in response to the failure of the SSS to release the detained publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, and his co-accused, Olawale Bakare.
DSS has been holding Sowore for weeks despite a court order to the effect that he should be released having met his bail conditions.
Sowore has been in detention since August for being the brain behind the protest titled Revolution Now, against the Federal Government.
He was arraigned by the DSS for alleged treasonable felony, fraud and other crimes.
The protesters claimed the present government should be sacked as a result of non-performance.
However, the protest was frustrated as the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos, venue of the protest was barricaded by security forces.
Before the latest threat to jail Bichi, the court had issued an order drawing attention to the consequence of not obeying the directive of the court.
The notice of the threat by the court 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.”