The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly changed its position on the ongoing trial of Omoyele Sowore, with the agency now said to have directed its prosecuting counsel to continue with the case.
Sowore, a human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday as proceedings in the case continued.
Sowore’s Trial Continues In Abuja
Sowore appeared in court shortly after returning to Nigeria from the United States.
His lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), was also present during the proceedings.
According to the report, the defence team learnt from the prosecution that the DSS would no longer pursue its earlier plan to seek a lengthy adjournment of the case.
The development represents a reported change from the position previously attributed to the agency.
How We Got Here
About a month earlier, the DSS had reportedly instructed its prosecuting counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), to ask the Federal High Court in Abuja to suspend the proceedings until after the 2027 general election.
The reported plan was linked to concerns about the pending case and Sowore’s participation in the election.
According to the earlier account, the proposed adjournment was intended to allow Sowore to participate in the election without the ongoing proceedings interfering with his campaign activities.
Why The Position Reportedly Changed
Sources familiar with the development told SaharaReporters that the DSS later directed Kehinde to proceed with the prosecution.
The sources attributed the reported change to concerns within the agency over Sowore’s continued criticism of President Bola Tinubu and his administration.
They alleged that DSS Director-General Oluwatosin Ajayi had initially hoped that postponing the trial would allow Sowore to participate in the election while reducing tensions surrounding the case.
The same sources claimed that the agency subsequently became dissatisfied with what they described as Sowore’s continued “intransigence” and his public criticism of the President.
Those claims came from the sources cited in the report and were not presented as a direct public statement by the DSS.
Sowore’s Political Activities Remain Part Of The Context
The sources also linked Sowore’s political activities and statements against the administration to the reported decision to abandon the proposed lengthy adjournment.
They said Kehinde was consequently directed to continue with the prosecution.
The supplied report does not include a direct response from the DSS explaining the alleged reversal or confirming the reasons attributed to the agency by the unnamed sources.
What Sowore’s Lawyers Learned
The change reportedly became clear when the prosecution informed Sowore’s legal team that the earlier plan to seek a lengthy adjournment would no longer be pursued.
Olumide-Fusika was present in court when the proceedings continued.
The development means the pending case remains before the Federal High Court rather than being placed on hold until after the 2027 general election.
What Happens Next?
The immediate next step is the continuation of Sowore’s trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The available report establishes that the DSS has reportedly instructed its prosecuting counsel to proceed, but it does not provide a final timetable for the remaining proceedings or indicate how the case will ultimately be resolved.
For now, the significant development is the reported shift from an earlier plan to seek a lengthy adjournment to continuing with the prosecution while the case remains before the court.
