The Department of State Services (DSS) has directed its private counsel, 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 sought to know 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 where he referred to the President as a “criminal.” The DSS further directed that cases of other elective positions’ contestants should also be reviewed accordingly.
According to the secret police, 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.”
In a letter to the chairman of Meta Corp on September 6, 2025, the DSS said it is legally required to protect the President not only from physical but also psychological attacks.
Following Sowore’s posts, the DSS asked him to remove them within 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.
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A reliable 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.
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 upcoming elections without let or hindrance.
He said, “The DSS boss told the lawyers that since the matter has been in court for almost a year, suspending it for another few months would not make much difference.
However, the source told PUNCH the DSS would formally communicate to the Federal High Court on Monday, September 14, 2026 its position on adjourning the matter with Sowore, seeking the indulgence of the court for the adjournment when the court would resume normal sittings after returning from annual judicial vacation. He added that other cases involving other candidates are under review.
Counsel Kehinde, when contacted, 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 will ask the court for an adjournment.