The trial of Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), is set to continue at the Federal High Court in Abuja after the Department of State Services (DSS) reversed its earlier decision to seek a long adjournment of the case. Sowore appeared before the court on Monday, September 26, 2026, as proceedings in the case resumed. His lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, was also present. The DSS had initially planned to seek an adjournment until after the 2027 general election.
The DSS had argued that putting the case on hold would allow Sowore to participate fully in campaign activities without an ongoing criminal case affecting his participation. In August 2026, the agency directed its counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to approach the Federal High Court for an adjournment until after the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027. This move followed a meeting involving DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, Kehinde, and senior officials in the agency's legal directorate.
However, sources familiar with the matter revealed that the DSS has now changed its position and directed Kehinde to proceed with the prosecution. The reversal comes only weeks after the DSS had announced its intention to suspend the proceedings. According to reports, the agency considered the suspension necessary because the election campaign period had commenced and Sowore was expected to participate as a presidential candidate.
The case against Sowore arose from social media posts he made in August 2025 concerning President Bola Tinubu. The DSS approached the Federal High Court after Sowore referred to the President as a "criminal" in posts published on his X and Facebook accounts. The agency has maintained that the court should determine whether such a description amounted to an offence under the Cybercrimes Act.
In May 2026, Justice Mohammed Umar dismissed a no-case submission filed by Sowore and ordered him to enter his defence. The ruling came after the prosecution completed its case and presented evidence before the court. However, the defence proceedings later ran into difficulties due to a disagreement between Sowore's lawyer and the prosecution counsel.
The disagreement became heated enough for Justice Umar to intervene and warn both senior lawyers against further misconduct in his courtroom. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter for continuation of the defence. Sowore returned to Nigeria from the United States on Sunday, September 27, 2026, ahead of the continuation of his 2027 presidential campaign.
Sources cited by SaharaReporters attributed the reversal to concerns within the agency over Sowore's continued criticism of President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government. The sources alleged that the DSS leadership had hoped the proposed suspension would create room for Sowore to participate in the 2027 election without the pending case hanging over him, but Sowore's continued public attacks against the administration contributed to the decision to resume the prosecution.
Key points
- The DSS has reversed its decision to suspend Omoyele Sowore's trial, ordering the continuation of the case.
- The trial was initially set to be adjourned until after the 2027 general election.
- The case against Sowore arose from social media posts he made in August 2025 concerning President Bola Tinubu.
