The presentation of an award to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been suspended by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism in reaction to the drama that ensued at the Federal High Court, Abuja when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) invaded the court premises to re-arrest Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare, barely 24 hours after their bail was effected.
WSCIJ Director, Motunrayo Alaka said the action was in protest against the repression of freedom of speech in recent times
Alaka on twitter twitted, “ …especially the incidence between the Department of State Security (DSS) and @YeleSowore, Publisher of @SaharaReporters, on Friday 6 December. #WSAIR2019,” the tweet announcing the postponement read.
The centre said “the Vice President himself shares this awareness and the inappropriateness of the award at this point.”
The award presentation programme will hold as scheduled on Monday by 6 p.m., the release added.
About 13 journalists from print, online, television, radio, photo, and editorial cartoon categories will be celebrated.
Veteran photojournalist, Sunmi Smart-Cole and Amnesty international will also be presented honorary awards of the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence and the Anti-Corruption Defender Award (Human Rights Specialty) respectively. Osinbajo was to receive an award in the latter category.
The WSCIJ holds the award presentation event on December 9, the World Anti-corruption day and eve of the World Human Rights Day to highlight the importance of investigative reporting as a tool for accountability, good governance and social justice in a democracy.
Sowore is facing a seven-count charge of treasonable felony, fraud, cyber-stalking and insulting President Buhari.
On different occasions, the court had ruled that the duo be granted bail, but the DSS operatives failed to obey the court orders.
Sowore, who was arrested on August 3 by the DSS for planning a protest popularised with the hashtag #RevolutionNow, was granted bail for the second time on October 18.
Sowore was released Thursday night but rearrested on Friday morning.