DSS Operative Links Activist's Social Media Post to Public Safety Concerns in Defamation Trial
The high-profile defamation trial involving human rights activist Omoyele Sowore and allegations against President Bola Tinubu commenced formally at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, January 21. The Department of State Services (DSS) presented its first witness, operative Cyril Nosike, who testified before Justice Mohammed Umar regarding the case.
Social Media Monitoring and Alleged Defamatory Content
Nosike, led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), informed the court that while performing his duties at the DSS cyberspace monitoring centre on August 26, 2025, he detected and monitored a post made by Sowore on his X account. According to the witness, Sowore referred to President Tinubu as "This criminal @officialABAT, the X handle of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces."
The post further stated: "This criminal @officialABAT actually went to Brazil to state that there is no more corruption under his regime in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly!" Nosike testified that this content generated significant public tension and posed a genuine threat to public safety.
Evidence Collection and Court Proceedings
The DSS operative detailed his evidence collection process, explaining that he downloaded the video attached to Sowore's post, saved it on a flash drive, and marked it with the identifier "XYZ." When presented with the flash drive and a certificate of compliance in court, Nosike identified them as the items he had referenced. The prosecution then applied to tender these materials as evidence.
Defence counsel Marshall Abubakar indicated he would reserve his objection for an appropriate time, leading the court to admit the items. At the prosecution's request, Justice Umar ordered the video to be played in open court. The footage showed President Tinubu speaking about his administration's achievements during a visit to Brazil, where he urged Brazilian businesses to invest in Nigeria and stated the country now offered a conducive business environment free from corruption.
Official Responses and Escalating Tensions
Nosike further testified that he captured screenshots of public reactions to Sowore's post. Based on these responses, the DSS wrote official letters to both X and Facebook (Meta), requesting removal of the post due to the tension it was generating. Additionally, a separate letter was sent to Sowore through his lawyers, demanding a retraction of the statement, with receipt of this communication being acknowledged.
Despite the confidential nature of the DSS letter, Nosike told the court that Sowore posted a screenshot of it on Facebook, attracting numerous reactions from Nigerians both domestically and internationally. The witness stated these reactions were disparaging toward the DSS and portrayed the security service in a negative light, complicating the work of security agencies.
Evidence Admission and Trial Adjournment
The prosecution subsequently tendered copies of the official letters and screenshots of reactions to Sowore's posts, all of which were admitted as evidence by the court. Following the conclusion of the witness's examination-in-chief, Justice Umar invited the defence to begin cross-examination.
Defence counsel Abubakar requested additional time to study the testimony before proceeding with cross-examination. Although counsel for the DSS opposed this request, Justice Umar granted an adjournment while declining to schedule a February date for continuation.
The court adjourned the matter to January 27 for cross-examination and continuation of the hearing, marking the next phase in this closely watched legal proceeding that intersects freedom of expression, national security concerns, and political discourse in Nigeria's digital landscape.
