Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has justified its prosecution of activist Omoyele Sowore over his description of President Bola Tinubu as "a criminal," with the agency's Director-General, Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, making it clear that the case was deliberately pursued to serve as a deterrent and to establish a judicial precedent on the limits of online expression.
In a statement issued through the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, the agency defended its decision to file charges against Sowore, citing a consistent pattern of seeking judicial interpretation in cases involving public commentary rather than resorting to arrest. The DSS explained that the current Director-General has adopted a practice of resolving such issues through legal channels, and that the Sowore case was pursued to obtain a judicial interpretation of his right to disparage and cyberbully the President.
The DSS drew comparisons to several other instances where it sought legal redress rather than using force. According to the statement, the agency cited the case of Prof. Pat Utomi's Shadow Government, where it sought a judicial explanation even without any arrest or invitation, leading to the Federal High Court declaring the Shadow Government unconstitutional. It also referenced instances involving false publications on the Lagos State House of Assembly invasion and a report by Order Paper alleging a barricade of the National Assembly Complex, where the DSS demanded public apologies rather than apprehending anyone. In both cases, the agency withdrew charges after the media houses made redress.
The Sowore case originated from a post he made on his X and Facebook accounts on August 25, 2025, in which he wrote: "This criminal actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE CORRUPTION in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly". The DSS described this as disparaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and embellishing his statement.
Rather than arresting Sowore immediately, the DSS, in a letter dated September 4, 2025, demanded a retraction within one week, in line with the current DG-DSS's practice of resolving such issues without the use of force. When Sowore failed to comply, the agency filed charges against him under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, in suit FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025.
Speaking on the case, DSS legal counsel Fidelis Adedipe, in an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time on July 2, 2026, described Sowore's actions as having "crossed the line." He stated: "Mr Sowore actually crossed the line. He tweeted, calling the president a criminal, and that is a joke taken a bit too far. You may not like the occupant of the office of the president, but the office ought to be respected. He was asked to take down the tweet, which he refused". Adedipe argued that there is a thin line between freedom of expression and committing an offence, and that Sowore had crossed that line.
The Federal High Court in Abuja recently granted Sowore bail in the sum of ₦200 million with two sureties in like sum, along with an order to deposit his international passport with the court. However, the DSS has been vocal in its criticism of the activist's conduct, and the agency has insisted that the prosecution is necessary to protect the integrity of the presidency and prevent the spread of falsehoods.
The DSS's handling of the Sowore case has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures. Some have accused the agency of political bias and increasing executive interference in judicial matters. Sowore himself has consistently argued that the DSS is acting as a proxy for the president and that his comments fall within the bounds of constitutionally protected free speech.
Despite the backlash, the DSS has maintained that its actions are consistent with the rule of law and that the prosecution of Sowore is not an attack on free expression but a necessary check on defamatory and inflammatory speech. The agency's decision to pursue the case as a high-profile example underscores the growing tension between the government's push for accountability in online discourse and the public's demand for unfettered freedom of expression in Nigeria's digital space.
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