The Department of State Services, DSS, has directed its counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to seek an adjournment of the alleged cybercrime case against African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election.
A source familiar with the matter said the move is to allow Sowore to fully participate in the electioneering process without court proceedings constituting a hindrance to his political activities.
The DSS had instituted the case against Sowore over social media posts in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”.
The posts were published on Sowore’s X account and Facebook page on August 25, 2025. The secret police had earlier issued him a seven-day ultimatum to remove them.
Following the expiration of the ultimatum, the DSS approached the Federal High Court on September 16, 2025, seeking judicial determination on whether it was lawful for an individual to publicly describe the President or any other person as a “criminal”.
The agency had also joined X and Meta in the suit, but the Federal High Court in Abuja later struck out the two technology companies, leaving Sowore as the sole defendant.
Sowore pleaded not guilty to the amended charges brought against him under the Cybercrimes Act 2024. He has described the prosecution as politically motivated and an attempt to restrict his freedom of expression.
The activist also instituted fundamental rights suits against the DSS and the technology companies, challenging alleged attempts to censor him.
According to the source, the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, met with the senior lawyer and officers of the legal directorate on August 20 to consider pausing the case. The meeting came shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, lifted the ban on campaigns for the 2027 presidential election.
“The DSS boss reportedly told the Senior Advocate and his directorate of legal services that, with the commencement of presidential campaigns, it would only be fair to pause the court case in order to enable Sowore fully participate in the upcoming elections without let or hindrance,” the source said.
The source added that Ajayi noted the case had been in court for nearly a year and that suspending it for another four months would not make a significant difference.
The DSS has also directed its legal team to review similar cases involving candidates contesting other elective positions.
The agency had previously maintained that the case was intended to obtain judicial interpretation on the propriety of describing President Tinubu or any other individual as a “criminal”.
In a September 6, 2025 letter to the chairman of Meta, the DSS said its statutory responsibility to protect the President extended beyond physical threats to include psychological attacks.
The decision to suspend the proceedings is expected to be formally communicated to the Federal High Court from Monday, September 14, 2026, when the court resumes normal sittings after its annual judicial vacation.
Sowore, who was previously granted bail by the Federal High Court on self-recognition, is expected to continue his political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
DSS Seeks Adjournment Of Cybercrime Case Against Sowore Until After 2027 Election
