Sowore Accuses DSS of Preventing Justice Crack From Meeting Bail Conditions

Human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has accused the Department of State Services (DSS) of obstructing social critic Justice Chidiebere, popularly known as Justice Crack, from fulfilling the conditions required for his bail.

Sowore made the allegation in a Facebook post where he claimed that Justice Crack had already satisfied almost all the bail conditions ordered by the Federal High Court in Abuja, except for the submission of his international passport.

According to Sowore, the passport is currently being held by the DSS, and the agency has allegedly refused to release it to Justice Crack’s legal team for submission to the court.

In his statement, Sowore said:

“It should be noted that Justice Chidiebere, aka Justice Crack, has fulfilled virtually all his bail conditions except one issue involving the deposit of his international passport. Ironically, the passport is currently in the custody of the lawless DSS, which has refused to release it to his lawyers to enable full compliance with the bail conditions and secure his release from unjust detention.”

He further alleged that the bail conditions may have been intentionally structured in a way that makes compliance difficult, thereby prolonging the detention of the social critic despite the court granting him bail.

Justice Crack is currently being prosecuted by the DSS over alleged cybercrime offences linked to a viral video concerning the feeding of Nigerian Army personnel.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted him bail on Monday, May 18, in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum.

The court ruled that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and provide proof of residence through either a tenancy agreement or certificate of occupancy. The surety must also be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 15 and provide evidence of salary payments, pensionable employment, and authentication from their department.

Additionally, the judge ordered the surety to submit an affidavit of means and a recent passport photograph, while Justice Crack was directed to deposit his international passport with the court.

However, Sowore insists that compliance has become impossible because the passport required by the court remains in DSS custody.

The DSS has not publicly responded to the allegations at the time of this report.

In conclusion, the controversy surrounding Justice Crack’s bail conditions has sparked fresh debate over due process and the handling of detention cases, especially as supporters continue calling for his immediate release.