DSS Pauses Cyberbullying Trial Against Sowore to Allow Smooth Presidential Campaign

The Department of State Services (DSS) has taken steps to temporarily halt its cyberbullying and cybercrime prosecution against the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 general elections.

The directive was issued following a consultative meeting between DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi, the agency’s prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), and top officials of the service’s legal directorate. The consultation came in the wake of the official lifting of the campaign ban by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to security sources, the DSS leadership resolved that halting court proceedings is necessary to give Sowore an unhindered opportunity to campaign and engage the electorate without the distraction of active court appearances. The secret police noted that because the trial has already spanned nearly a year, pausing the matter during the election cycle would ensure fairness without compromising the judicial process.

The lawsuit originated from social media commentary published across X and Facebook where the political activist referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”. Seeking judicial interpretation on whether such language qualifies as cyberbullying and criminal defamation, the DSS approached the court, maintaining that its statutory responsibility to protect the presidency covers psychological harm alongside physical threats.

The DSS confirmed that a formal application seeking an adjournment will be submitted before the Federal High Court in Abuja as soon as the court resumes regular sittings from its annual vacation. The agency also indicated that similar legal reviews are being carried out for other political candidates with pending matters.

However, the reported suspension has drawn pushback from Sowore and the AAC. In statements reacting to the move, the party rejected the decision to merely postpone the trial, demanding that the secret police terminate the prosecution entirely rather than leaving the charges hanging over their candidate.