THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The Take it Back Movement (TiB), founded by rights activist Omoyele Sowore, has announced that it has been registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission as a socio-political organization.
In a press release issued on Sunday, the Movement described the registration as “the latest milestone in our journey towards being the political anti-thesis of the unconscionable government of the day in Nigeria.”
In the statement signed by its Director-General, Dr Joshua Adeoye, TiB said the process of its registration was characterised by “delays and hurdles, compounded by the illegal detention of our convener, Omoyele Sowore”.
The Movement restates that Sowore, remains its leader as convener, while criticising some of its members whom it said did not participate in efforts to realise the freedom of Sowore during his incarceration. TiB has officially distanced itself from the members whom it alleged were involved in intrigues to hijack the leadership of the organisation during the period that its founder was in detention.
Sowore, who is also the convener of #RevolutionNow protests, was detained from August until he was freed on bail in December. The move followed massive local and international pressure on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to obey court rulings freeing Sowore, who is also the publisher of the online news site Sahara Reporters.
Nigeria’s secret service, the Department of State Services (DSS), had arrested Sowore on 3 August before the commencement of a nationwide protest, tagged #RevolutionNow, he had called for. The planned action was to protest against the reigning insecurity, economic despondency and mass unemployment in the country.
Sowore was arraigned alongside co-activist Olawale Bakare on counts bordering on treasonable felony and money laundering, among others, but which they both denied.
Both men continued to be held by the security agency despite an order of the court granting them bail.
Following a second court order, Sowore and Bakare were released on 5 December, but the online publisher, who was a candidate at Nigeria’s last presidential election, was rearrested barely 24 hours later by the DSS in a court room in session.
The government finally bowed to local and international pressure and released Sowore on 24 December. His trial will however continue.
Kola Tella
