The Department of State Services (DSS) has directed its private counsel, Akinolu Kehinde, SAN, to suspend the alleged cyberbullying case against African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore until after the 2027 presidential election. The decision follows a meeting between DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi, the senior lawyer, and top officials of the agency’s Legal Directorate.
DSS Directs Suspension of Sowore Case
A DSS source told Vanguard that Ajayi instructed the lawyer and officials of the Directorate of Legal Services that, with the commencement of presidential campaigns, it would only be fair to pause the case. The source further stated that the case, having been in court for nearly a year, could be suspended for another four months without making much difference.
“The DSS boss told the lawyers that, since the matter had been in court for nearly a year, suspending it for another four months wouldn’t make much difference,” the source added.
Timeline for Formal Communication to Court
According to the source, the DSS is expected to formally communicate its decision to suspend the case to the Federal High Court from September 14, 2026, when the court is scheduled to resume normal sittings after the annual judicial vacation. The suspension will remain in effect until after the 2027 presidential election.
Background of the Alleged Cyberbullying Case
The DSS had approached the court to determine if it was proper for Sowore to allegedly cyberbully President Bola Tinubu on August 25, 2025, through posts on his “X” handle and Facebook page, referring to the president as a “criminal.” The case has been in court for nearly a year, and the DSS’s decision to pause it reflects the timing of the upcoming presidential campaigns.
The suspension is seen as a strategic move to avoid any perceived interference with the electoral process, as the case would otherwise continue during the campaign period. The DSS has not yet issued an official public statement on the matter, but the directive from its Director-General signals a clear policy shift regarding the handling of the case.
