The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked its private lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to take steps to seek an adjournment of the case of alleged cyber-bullying it instituted against the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the next presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
In a letter to the court, the DSS asked if it was appropriate for Sowore to cyber-bully President Bola Tinubu in the August 25, 2025, posts on his “X” handle and Facebook page referring to the President as a “criminal.” The DSS also directed that cases of other elective positions’ contestants should also be reviewed accordingly.
The Sowore matter was to seek judicial interpretation on the propriety of calling President Bola Tinubu or anybody else a criminal arbitrarily, the same way it sought the court’s ruling on the legality of Professor Pat Utomi’s “Shadow Government,” the secret police said.
In a letter dated September 6, 2025, to the chairman of Meta Corp, the DSS explained that it was legally bound to protect the President from not only physical but also psychological attacks.
After Sowore’s posts, the DSS asked him to take them down in seven days. When the ultimatum expired and he (Sowore) refused to take down the posts, the secret police, without inviting or arresting him, approached the court for adjudication on September 16, 2025.
A dependable source close to the DSS lawyer confirmed that the Director-General, Mr Tosin Ajayi, met with the senior lawyer and top officers of the DSS legal directorate on August 20, a day after the ban on campaigns was officially lifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider asking the court for an adjournment to allow Sowore to fully exercise his right to contest the forthcoming presidential election.
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The source disclosed that the DSS boss reportedly told the Senior Advocate and his directorate of legal services that with the commencement of the presidential campaigns, it would only be fair to adjourn the court case to enable Sowore fully participate in the forthcoming elections without let or hindrance.
He said, “The DSS boss told the lawyers that suspending it for another few months would not make much difference since the matter has been in court for almost a year.
However, the source told PUNCH that the DSS would formally communicate to the Federal High Court on Monday, September 14, 2026 its position on adjourning the matter with Sowore. The source said, “The DSS will seek the indulgence of the court for the adjournment when the court would resume normal sittings after returning from annual judicial vacation. He said other cases involving other candidates are being reviewed.
Counsel Kehinde when contacted confirmed the above position adding that same is in consonance with the civilized approach of the current DGSS who will always ensure a level playing field and opportunity for everyone. We shall seek the indulgence of the court for an adjournment.
