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.
The DSS approached the court to determine whether it was proper for Sowore to allegedly cyber-bully President Bola Tinubu in August 25, 2025, posts on his “X” handle and Facebook page, where he referred to the President as a “criminal.” The DSS further directed that cases of contestants for other elective positions should also be reviewed accordingly.
The Sowore matter, according to the secret police, was to seek judicial interpretation on the propriety of calling President Bola Tinubu or anyone else a criminal arbitrarily, the same way it sought the court’s ruling on the legality of Professor Pat Utomi’s “Shadow Government.”
In a September 6, 2025 letter to the chairman of Meta Corp, the DSS said that, in addition to protecting the President from physical threats, it is also legally mandated to protect him from psychological attacks.
After Sowore’s posts, the DSS asked him to take them down in seven days. When the ultimatum elapsed, and he (Sowore) still refused to pull down the posts, the secret police without inviting or arresting him, approached the court for adjudication on September 16, 2025.
A reliable source close to the DSS lawyer confirmed that the Director-General, Mr Tosin Ajayi, held a meeting 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 enable Sowore to fully exercise his right to contest the upcoming presidential election.
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“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 upcoming elections without let or hindrance,” the source disclosed.
He said: “The DSS boss told the lawyers that, as the matter has been in court for almost a year, suspending it for another few months would not make much difference.
The source, however, said the position of the DSS on adjourning the matter with Sowore would be formally communicated to the Federal High Court from Monday, September 14, 2026 seeking the indulgence of the court for the adjournment when the court would resume normal sittings after returning from annual judicial vacation. Other cases involving other candidates are under review, he added.
When contacted, counsel Kehinde confirmed the above position adding that it 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 ask the court for an adjournment.
