The Department of State Services has directed its private counsel, Akinolu Kehinde, SAN, to take steps to suspend the alleged cyberbullying case against the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election.
The development followed a meeting between the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, the senior lawyer and other top officials of the agency’s legal directorate on August 20, according to a source close to the DSS counsel.
The meeting reportedly considered suspending the case to enable Sowore, who is expected to contest the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, to participate fully in the electoral process without being distracted by the court proceedings.
According to the source, Ajayi told the legal team that, with the commencement of presidential campaigns, it would be fair to pause the case and allow Sowore to focus on his political activities.
“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 further disclosed that Ajayi noted that the case had already been before the court for nearly a year and that suspending it for another four months would not significantly affect the proceedings.
“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.
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 following the annual judicial vacation.
If granted, the proposed suspension would keep the case in abeyance throughout the ongoing presidential campaign and the 2027 election period.
The case arose from social media posts made by Sowore on August 25, 2025, on his X handle and Facebook page.
Following the posts, the DSS reportedly issued Sowore a seven-day ultimatum to delete them. He allegedly declined to comply with the directive.
The agency subsequently approached the Federal High Court seeking a judicial determination of whether Sowore’s social media references to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal” amounted to cyberbullying.
The DSS said the suit was intended to obtain judicial interpretation on whether it was legally permissible for an individual to describe Tinubu or any other person as a criminal without a prior court pronouncement.
The proposed suspension comes against the backdrop of heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Sowore among the opposition figures seeking to challenge the established political order.
The development could temporarily ease the legal pressure surrounding the AAC candidate as political parties and presidential aspirants intensify preparations for the election.
However, the proposed suspension remains subject to the appropriate court process and any decision that may ultimately be made by the Federal High Court.