The Department of State Services, DSS, has reportedly reversed its earlier decision to seek a suspension of the criminal trial of African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore until after the 2027 general election.
SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the agency had directed its prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to continue with the case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The reversal reportedly came weeks after the DSS had indicated that it wanted the proceedings paused to allow Sowore to participate in the 2027 presidential election without the ongoing case hanging over his campaign.
According to sources cited by SaharaReporters, DSS officials became dissatisfied with Sowore’s continued criticism of President Bola Tinubu and subsequently instructed the prosecution to proceed with the case.
The report said the DSS had initially viewed a temporary suspension as a way of reducing tensions surrounding the prosecution while allowing Sowore to participate in the election.
Sowore had rejected the proposed suspension, arguing that the DSS could not simply pause a prosecution it had brought against him. He instead demanded that the charges be withdrawn, an apology issued and electronic devices allegedly seized from him and his associates returned.
The case followed social media posts in which Sowore referred to Tinubu as a “criminal”. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which are being prosecuted under provisions of Nigeria’s 2024 Cybercrimes Amendment Act.
Sowore appeared at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday following his return from the United States, accompanied by his lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN.
However, proceedings did not immediately resume because the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, was reportedly not sitting when the parties arrived. The parties were subsequently expected to return either on Tuesday or later on Monday for further directions.
The latest development marks a change from the DSS position reported in August, when the agency was said to have instructed its lawyer to seek an adjournment until after the 2027 presidential election.
At the time, the proposed suspension was linked to the commencement of the 2027 election campaign period. Sowore rejected the proposal and demanded that the case be withdrawn altogether.
The prosecution has also been marked by disagreements between the DSS legal team and Sowore’s defence over delays, witnesses and the conduct of proceedings.
Sowore’s defence had previously sought to compel DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi to appear as a witness, although the defence later agreed to allow another DSS official to testify.
The court has yet to determine the allegations against Sowore, who remains the AAC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
