THE SQUIB reports that the courageous young people (#Dunamis5) illegally detained by the Department of State Services were just released from detention by the Nigerian secret police, Department of State Services (DSS) after 30 days in detention because they wore #BuhariMustGo Tshirts to Dunamis Church service in Abuja on July 4 2021.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Omoyele Sowore, the leader of #RevolutionNow Movement and leading #BuhariMustGo campaigner stated "we want to appreciate everyone who stood firmly by these young men and the #Revolutionnow movement during their unjust incarceration-torture and dehumanisation in the hands of Dr. Paul Enenche’s church security before they were handed over to the DSS."
THE SQUIB also gathered that the lawsuit in pursuit of justice for the five revolutionaries will continue at the Federal High Court .
Sowore ,in his statement asserted that "administrative sanctions will be pursued against the Magistrate that ignored a superior court order ordering their release as well as the three DSS lawyers who flagrantly ignored the higher court orders to arraign them before the Magistrate. Their lawyers will also pursue a contempt of court proceeding against the DG of DSS, Yusuf Bichi Mogaji in coming days."
In a related development, lead lawyer to the Dunamis 5, Tope Tomekun Esq in a statement made available to THE SQUIB narrated how his legal team secured freedom for the Dunamis 5.
The excerpts of the statement is as follows:
"VICTORY AT LAST!
#DUNAMIS 5: SHORT WALK TO PRISON BUT LONG WALK TO FREEDOM!
-4th of July, 2021.
These 5 young Nigerians attended the DUNAMIS church in Abuja, to seek God's intervention, according to them, for Nigeria at this difficult time. Hardly did it occur to them that the gate to the church could also turn to the gate to prison.
-4th of July, 2921.
Arrested after church service by the invited men of the DSS at the DUNAMIS church premises, with the help of the DUNAMIS church security men, on the ground that they wore Buhari Must Go T-shirts!
-7th of July 2021!
We approached the Federal High Court Abuja to enforce their rights: right to freedom from discrimination, right to freedom of thought, right to freedom of expression and right to personal liberty. Two motions were filed: a motion on notice and a motion ex parte.
- 26th of July 2021.
We moved the motion ex parte, praying the court for interim order of release. The court granted the 5 applications and ordered the DSS to release the #Dunamis 5 immediately and unconditionally. The DSS refused to obey that order of My Lord, Hon. Justice Chikere of the Federal High Court 3 Abuja.
-28th of July 2021.
The DSS rushed the DUNAMIS 5 to Mpape magistrate court to be arraigned on 5-count charge, all centred on breach of public peace at DUNAMIS church. We applied for their bail and they were all granted bail by the sitting magistrate.
-2nd of August 2021.
We perfected the bail conditions and the court issued a notification of perfection of bail to the Director General of the DSS and ordering the immediate release of the DUNAMIS 5. The DSS refused to comply with this 2nd Order.
-2nd of August 2021.
We commenced contempt proceedings against the Director General of the DSS for failure to comply with the order of the Federal High Court of the 26th of July 2021, served on the DSS on the 29th of July 2021.
-3rd of August 2021.
The DSS bowed to the fireworks from the people of Nigeria and released the DUNAMIS 5.
The only antidote to tyranny is that men of courage must relentlessly and tirelessly inspire the masses to action. Tyranny has not survived the people in all histories. The people, determined, always survive tyranny.
Yes, we have fought a good battle in court. But without the men of courage like Omoyele Sowore, who, at the risk of personal peril, has refused to be tired of giving us the inspiration and our courageous media, who won't let all these oppressions be covered in the darkness and the courageous Nigerian youths who have refused to cave in, in the face of the staccato of the government gunmen, we would not have succeeded!
The victory is therefore dedicated to the Nigerian masses!
I must drop a word for our media men.
I reckon that the present generation of Nigerian media reporters are nurtured under an oppressive regime and for this reason, they are radicalized and more daring. We must commend those guys for always daring the DSS in court and on the street, until their camera or phone is seized or broken and until they are arrested. Our reporters deserve an award for their courage. Kudos guys!
We thank the press generally for not allowing all these oppressions to be covered in the dark.
On behalf of these courageous young men, who will now go down in history as the DUNAMIS 5: Emmanuel Larry, Ben Mannaseh, Victor Ndoka, Henry Nwodo and Samuel Gabriel(the blind Saxophonist, who despite his blindness, was arrested for wearing a shirt, with an inscription, that he could not even read), who all just spent 30 days in the DSS prison, for wearing Buhari Must Go T-shirts, I thank Nigerians for the outcry. I thank my egbon, Omoyele Sowore! I thank my team members, Peter Asimegbe Esq. and Allen Sowore Esq., guys welldone!
The more lawless our government becomes, the more daring we shall become. We shall not give up and nothing shall discourage us!
Tope Temokun Esq
Counsel to the DUNAMIS 5!
August 3, 2021.
7:00am"
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