Controversy Trails DSS Earlier Move To Suspend Sowore’s Case

By Ejike Ejike and Olakunle Olasanmi, Abuja

Controversy has trailed the Department of State Services (DSS) denial that it  earlier directed its counsel to seek the suspension of the ongoing trial of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election.

The controversy followed Monday’s proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where DSS counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, said he was unaware of any directive from the agency to seek an adjournment of the case until after the election.

Kehinde’s position  conflicts with reports published by several major Nigerian media organisations on August 30, stating that the DSS had directed him to temporarily suspend the proceedings to enable Sowore, an AAC presidential candidate, to participate fully in the 2027 electioneering process.

Those reports were based on a DSS statement, in which its  media unit said that its director-general, Oluwatosin Ajayi, had directed the agency’s counsel to take steps towards suspending the case.

Part of the statement from the DSS media team read: “Alleged Cybercrime: DSS Directs Counsel To Suspend Sowore’s Prosecution Until After 2027 Presidential Election

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has instructed its private counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to take steps to adjourn the case of alleged cyber-bullying it instituted against African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the next presidential election slated for January 16, 2027.”

The statement further added that “the director general, Ajayi, met with the senior lawyer and top officers of the DSS’s legal directorate on 20 August, a day after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially lifted the ban on campaigns, to consider pausing the court case to enable Sowore to fully exercise his right to contest the upcoming presidential election.

“The DSS boss reportedly told the senior advocate and his directorate of legal services that, with the commencement of presidential campaigns, it would only be fair to pause the court case in order to enable Sowore to fully participate in the upcoming elections without let or hindrance.”

However, the DSS, while responding to an inquiry seeking to clarify the situation on Monday, stated,

“There was no suspension. Non was actually sought if u recall clearly,” the service said in a terse response to LEADERSHIP.

The clarification came after Sowore’s lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, raised the earlier-reported plan during Monday’s proceedings before Justice Mohammed Umar.

Kehinde reportedly told the court that he was not aware of any directive instructing him to seek the suspension of the trial and described the reports as social media creations.

The development has consequently raised questions over what transpired between the reported DSS decision in August and Monday’s proceedings.

On 30 August, multiple news organisations reported that the DSS had directed Kehinde to seek an adjournment of the case until after the 2027 presidential election.

According to the reports, the decision followed a meeting on 20 August involving Ajayi, Kehinde and senior officials of the DSS legal directorate.

The reported reason was the commencement of the 2027 electioneering period and the need to allow Sowore, who is seeking the presidency under the AAC, to participate in campaign activities without the ongoing court proceedings becoming a hindrance.

The reports further stated that the DSS considered the case had been before the court for almost a year and that putting it on hold for several months would not prejudice the proceedings.

The DSS media unit reportedly said that Ajayi directed the agency’s counsel to take steps to temporarily suspend the case.

But the reported suspension did not translate into a formal application before the court.

Sowore’s Statement On National TV

Sowore had also rejected the proposed suspension at the time, saying he was not seeking an adjournment and instead called for the DSS to withdraw the charges and apologise to him.

With the issue raised again in court on Monday, the trial is continuing, and the Federal High Court has fixed 2 October for Sowore to continue his defence.

The case arose from social media posts Sowore made in August 2025, in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”. The DSS subsequently instituted proceedings seeking judicial determination of whether such a description constituted an offence under the Cybercrimes Act.

Sowore has pleaded not guilty to the amended charges and has continued to challenge the prosecution.