NIGERIA—Although his trial was adjourned Nov. 6 by Nigerian authorities until early December, Omoyele Sowore—a U.S. citizen, Haworth resident and journalist—remains imprisoned in a Nigerian jail and denied communication with family and friends despite numerous efforts to free the journalist.
Almost 200 friends and neighbors rallied Oct. 28 near Haworth Borough Hall, holding candles, praying and tying 87 yellow ribbons around the trunk of a small tree, representing then 87 days he had been held. As of Nov. 11, he will have been held in jail for 101 days.
Sowore was arrested Aug. 2 and held for months before being formally charged. He remains in prison with no word on a possible release date.
The Oct. 28 “Tie a Yele Ribbon” event in the northern New Jersey suburb was meant to raise public awareness of Omoyele’s plight, said Alanna Zahn Davis, a media spokeswoman and Sowore family friend. The effort to free Sowore has also garnered support from several human rights and press freedom organizations.
Amnesty International called Sowore’s arrest “a misuse of the criminal system to silence critics and opposition.”
Founded online news site
Sowore founded Sahara Reporters in 2006, an online news service which covers Nigerian government and politics. The news site has frequently reported on Nigerian government corruption and malfeasance. Reporters for the international news outlet are based in New York City.
Yele, as friends call him, remains behind bars, with his bail set at $829,000. He is charged with treason and money laundering.
His wife, Opeyemi, has not heard from her husband since Aug. 2, and told ABC News that she has also not heard a word from the U.S. government about possible plans or negotiations for his release.
“The outcome and events today [Nov. 6] that resulted in the judge’s motion to adjourn my husband’s trial until early December acknowledges that the Nigerian government did not allow due process leading into today’s court proceedings,” said Opeyemi Sowore in a statement.
‘Baseless charges’
His wife said the attorney handling her husband’s defense said Yele “has met all bail conditions. We are now awaiting word on my husband’s release. He is presently still in custody of the DSS (Nigerian police). Our hope is the baseless charges will be dropped immediately. My family remains concerned for my husband’s safety and pray for his safe return home to New Jersey,” said Sowore.
Although he was also ordered to be released Sept. 24 by a federal High Court justice, he was never released then and remains held in jail now.
On Sept. 20, nearly two months after being arrested, he was charged with three offenses: organizing a protest, insulting the Nigerian president, and transferring U.S. money to a Nigerian account.
Since his arrest, international human-rights groups and press-freedom organizations have called for Sowore’s release. Amnesty International called Sowore’s arrest “a misuse of the criminal system to silence critics and opposition.”
At the Oct. 28 community event, Opeyemi asked residents to join in a community prayer for Yele’s release.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you,” said the assembled residents in unison.
Opeyemi also said a separate prayer for Yele’s release and for all journalists facing similar fates elsewhere.
“I pray that we’re all here again shortly celebrating Yele’s release,” she concluded.
Mayor Thomas Ference was moved by the widespread local support for Sowore shown by residents who came out during the “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” community night.
“I’m struck by the strength of connection here in this crowd, by this community, families joining with others to offer compassion, kindness, prayer. The power of connections reminds us all that we belong to a greater community, one that comforts and shows up in times of need,” he said.
This statement attributed to Sowore’s lawyer was shared with Northern Valley Press
“On 8th August 2019, the Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo granted the application of the State Security Service to detain Mr. Omoyele Sowore for 45 days. Upon the expiration of the 45-day detention period the court granted Mr. Sowore bail on September 24, 2019. He met the bail conditions but the State Security Service refused to release him from custody.
—Femi Falana, Sowore’s lawyer
Mr. Sowore and Mandate Bakare were subsequently charged with treasonable felony, cyber stalking and money laundering on September 30, 2019. The trial judge, the Honourable Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu admitted the defendants to bail under very stringent conditions. Upon meeting the bail conditions Justice Ojukwu directed the State Security Service to release the drfendants from detention.
But in utter contempt of the orders of Justice Ojukwu the State Security Service has refused to release Messrs Sowore and Bakare from custody.
Since the State Security Service is not above the law of the land we shall embark on appropriate legal measures to ensure compliance with the court orders.”
