The Department of State Services (DSS) has directed its legal counsel to seek the suspension of the ongoing cyberstalking trial involving African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, until after the 2027 presidential election.
The move is intended to allow Sowore to participate fully in the electoral process without the pending case affecting his campaign activities.
According to reports, DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, directed the agency’s counsel, Akinolu Kehinde, SAN, to take steps to suspend the proceedings.
The decision reportedly followed a meeting between Ajayi, Kehinde and senior officials of the DSS legal directorate on August 20, a day after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lifted the ban on presidential campaigns.
The DSS is expected to approach the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 20 to request a lengthy adjournment of the case until after the presidential election.
The 2027 presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Why the case was instituted
The case followed social media posts by Sowore in which he referred to President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
The DSS subsequently approached the Federal High Court over the posts, seeking the court’s determination on whether it was lawful for Sowore or any other person to describe the President or another individual as a criminal.
The agency also asked the court to interpret issues relating to the proposed “Shadow Government” associated with Professor Pat Utomi.
The DSS had earlier pursued the matter after Sowore reportedly declined to remove the posts despite a seven-day ultimatum issued by the agency.
Why the suspension matters
Sowore is preparing to contest the 2027 presidential election under the African Democratic Congress (AAC), according to the reports.
The DSS’s proposed suspension would mean that the ongoing court proceedings would not continue during the presidential campaign period.
The agency said the move would enable Sowore to exercise his constitutional right to participate in the election without the case becoming an impediment to his campaign.
However, constitutional lawyer Festus Ogun told Premium Times that the proposed suspension has no legal basis and could amount to an abuse of judicial process. He argued that the DSS could instead withdraw or discontinue the case if it no longer wished to proceed with it.
What happens next
The DSS has not withdrawn the case. Its counsel is expected to formally approach the Federal High Court on September 20 to seek an adjournment.
The court will determine whether to grant the application.
If granted, the proceedings would resume after the 2027 presidential election.
The development comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections and raises fresh questions about how criminal proceedings involving political candidates should be handled during election periods.
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