ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Department of State Services (DSS) has instructed its private counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to seek a long adjournment in the ongoing cybercrime prosecution of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore. Under the new directive, proceedings would remain suspended until after the conclusion of the 2027 presidential election.
The decision was reached during an August 20 meeting convened by DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi alongside senior legal officers and external counsel. The meeting was held shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officially lifted the ban on presidential campaign activities ahead of the upcoming general elections.
According to sources familiar with the resolution, the intelligence agency resolved to pause the trial to ensure a level playing field for all political contenders. The move is aimed at allowing Sowore to fully engage in nationwide electioneering activities without court dates acting as a distraction or impediment.
The legal dispute traces back to social media publications made by Sowore in August 2025, in which he referred to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a “criminal”. Following Sowore’s refusal to comply with a seven-day administrative directive to retract the posts, the DSS filed charges under the Cybercrimes Act in September 2025. The agency maintained that the suit was intended to seek definitive judicial interpretation on whether public figures can be subjected to arbitrary criminal designations without due process.
Legal counsel representing the DSS confirmed the agency’s stance, noting that formal application for the adjournment will be presented before the Federal High Court in Abuja when standard judicial sittings resume on September 14 following the annual court vacation. The security agency has also initiated a broader administrative review of pending legal matters involving candidates contesting other elective offices to maintain a uniform approach throughout the campaign period.
