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Activists Insists He Would Not Enter ‘Black Maria’
There was drama at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday as human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, insisted he would not be transported to Kuje Correctional Centre in a Black Maria.
Black Maria is the usual truck in which prisoners and other criminals are moved from courts to custodies. It has also gained recognition being used to transport high profile persons under trial,
Justice Mohammed Umar has earlier given an order on Monday, directing that Sowore be held in custody pending the hearing and determination of a motion seeking to stay the execution of earlier orders revoking his bail and issuing a bench warrant for his arrest.
The judge also dismissed an earlier application filed by Sowore requesting the judge’s recusal from the case over alleged bias.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to June 24 for hearing of the application for stay.
According to court proceedings, the motion for stay was filed by Sowore’s new counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN.
Sowore, also the publisher of Sahara Reporters, had earlier appeared in court accompanied by supporters carrying placards.
Justice Umar had on June 16 revoked his bail after ruling that he failed to appear for trial proceedings, and subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest following an oral application by counsel to the Department of State Services (DSS), Akinkolu Kehinde, SAN.
The Department of State Services is prosecuting Sowore over allegations of defaming President Bola Tinubu, following a post on his X and Facebook accounts in which he allegedly referred to the president as a “criminal.”
Drama however ensued after the court had risen and Sowore was to be moved to Kuje Correctional Centre.
Hardly had he moved out of the courtroom than some officials of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) swooped on him and moving to seize him from Correction Centre officials.
Sowore charged at the DSS officials calling them abductors. He insisted that the order of the court was for him to be remanded in prison and not DSS custody.
The development caused arguments between Sowore’s lawyers, DSS and Correctional Centre personnel.
At some point, when it was agreed that Sowore would follow the Correctional Centre officials, he noticed that he was to be directed to enter the Black Maria; a move he vehemently resisted.
“When you bring people who still billions to court, you use Vans, but you now want to take me in Black Maria. No, I will not enter Black Maria,” Sowore told the officials.
At some point, the activist said he would order a Uber which would take him to prison rather than enter the Black Maria.
Eventually, he suggested he would rather use the Van belonging to the DSS to be transported to Kuje Correctional Centre.
Supporters of the activists had hailed him shouting “Revolution Now” as they moved out of the court premises.