[2/13, 9:51 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: LIVE BLOG: #SoworevsFG: Trial Continues As Buhari Regime Amends Charges Against Sowore | Sahara Reporters
The trial of Omoyele Sowore continues today as the Nigerian government reduced the charges against the #RevolutionNow convener…
[2/13, 9:51 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: At the trial yesterday, the presiding judge awarded a fine of N200,000 against the government to be paid to Sowore for sloppy prosecution.
@NigeriaGov also amended the charges from 7 to 2, which hearing will begin today.
Sowore #SoworeVsFG
[2/13, 9:52 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: The courtroom is filled with legal practitioners and Sowore’s supporters as they await the arrival of Sowore and the judge.
Sowore #SoworeVsFG
[2/13, 9:52 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: A.A Aliyu is appearing for the prosecution alongside 6 others.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:52 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Abdul Mahmud appearing for defendants, now mentioning appearances.
He is holding brief for Femi Falana alongside 10 others.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:53 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Prosecution counsel, Aliyu, said he has complied with the court’s order as regards the supply of materials to the defence.
He said they have also paid Sowore and Bakare the fine of N200,000 as ordered by the judge.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:53 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: He is applying for the substitution of an earlier charge filed on the 19th of September 2019, with a two-count amended charge dated 10th of February 2020, and filed on the 11th of February 2020.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:53 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: The defence counsels acknowledge that they have been served.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:53 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: The defence also confirmed that the Nigerian government has paid @YeleSowore and Bakare the sum of N200,000 as directed by Justice Ojukwu
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:53 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Mahmud said that the full witness statement has not yet been complied with.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:54 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: He said they were served summary of witness statement of Moses Amaki, Usman Baffa, Paul Okafor a technical video engineer and the statement of Paul Clement, a financial analyst/investigator as opposed to the full statement required
SoworeVsFG
[2/13, 9:54 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Mahmud also told the court he does not have an objection to the amended charge filed by the government.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:55 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: BREAKING: Court strikes out the former seven-count charge against @YeleSowore, Bakare.
[2/13, 9:55 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: BREAKING: Sowore, Bakare plead not guilty to fresh charges as court registrar read the new charge to them.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:55 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Aliyu said he is ready to proceed with the prosecution.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:56 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Mahmud argued for the fundamental rights of the accused includes being availed the opportunity to prepare their defence.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:56 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: He said the prosecution has failed to submit the full statement of witnesses as directed by Justice Ojukwu four times.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:56 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: He also said that they (defence team) do not know the content of the video that Sowore and Bakare will be prosecuted for.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:57 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Aliyu objected. He said the summary of the witness statement is sufficient to proceed with the case.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:57 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Justice Ojukwu requests to see a copy of the statement.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:57 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu is flipping through the summary of the statement of the witnesses.
SoworeVsFG #FreeSoworeNow
[2/13, 9:57 AM] Hon Prince Ayodeji Allen: Justice Ojukwu asked if the statement is the exact statement the witnesses made when they were cross-examined by the prosecution. Aliyu answered in the affirmation.