DSS asks court to end Sowore’s defence after repeated delays

The Department of State Services (DSS) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to foreclose the defence of Omoyele Sowore in his ongoing cybercrime trial, accusing the publisher and former presidential candidate of repeatedly delaying proceedings.

The DSS is prosecuting Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, over alleged criminal defamation, cyberstalking and incitement charges arising from social media posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.” 

Sowore has denied the allegations.

At Monday’s proceedings before Justice Mohammed Umar, defence counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika sought an adjournment, explaining that an application filed on July 22 for the court to certify documents intended for use in examining a subpoenaed DSS witness had only been discovered to have been approved shortly before the court session.

“We filed an application on 22nd July, 2026, and were told that Your Lordship had not approved it. We only discovered that the court approved it on 27th July, a few minutes before the court began sitting,” Olumide-Fusika told the court, attributing the delay to the court registry.

Counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde, opposed the request, arguing that the defence had adopted a deliberate strategy to prolong the trial despite the prosecution producing a nominated officer to testify on behalf of the Director-General of the DSS, as previously agreed.

“The prosecution has fulfilled its obligation by producing the witness. The repeated delays amount to a deliberate attempt to stall the proceedings, and the court should foreclose the defence and direct parties to file their final written addresses,” Kehinde urged the court.

The defence rejected the application, insisting that it was not responsible for the administrative delay and maintained that it had no intention of frustrating the trial.

Justice Umar cautioned the defence over what he described as repeated delays since the prosecution closed its case in March, warning counsel against conduct capable of disrupting proceedings.

“I have been on the Bench for 22 years. This should be the last time. If you are no longer interested in the case, you should say so. You cannot behave in my court in that manner,” the judge said.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter until September 20 for continuation of the defence.