A Federal High Court has ordered that publisher of Sahara reporters, Omoyele Sowore, be detained in custody pending hearing for bail application on Friday, October 4.
The court gave the order after the DSS re arraigned Sowore before another Federal High Court justice. Meanwhile, the court earlier ruled that the trial of the publisher of Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, will continue.
In her ruling on Monday, September 30, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, ruled that a defendant is at liberty to take his plea provided he understands the charges levelled against him.
Ojukwu also said: “I see no breach of the constitution in this circumstance, and the defendants are called upon to take their pleas.” At the pronouncement of the court, the registry began reading the charges against the defendants.
“Reading the first charge to the defendants, Sowore and his co-defendant agreed to understanding count 1 and both pleaded not guilty.
However, after the registrar reeled out the second charge, Sowore told the court that he does not understand the charge.
To this, his counsel who is seated at the bar made signals to him and Sowore replies: “I’m pleading not guilty based on the advise of my lawyer, right now.”
The Registrar continued to the third and fourth charges as the defendants pleaded not guilty.
On getting to the fifth charge, Sowore said he was confused as does not understand the charge.
