Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters and African Action Congress presidential candidate, has insisted that the Director General of the State Security Service, Tosin Ajayi, must appear in court to testify in his ongoing cyberbullying trial. Mr Sowore faces prosecution by the SSS for social media posts calling President Bola Tinubu a criminal. The defence argues that Mr Ajayi must testify personally as the original request was subpoenaing him to appear in court.
The defence had previously withdrawn an application to subpoena Mr Ajayi following an intervention by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi. However, the defence reignited the request for Mr Ajayi to appear as trial resumed this week. The SSS had announced in August a decision to put prosecution on hold to enable Mr Sowore to participate fully in the electioneering process. The prosecution lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, cited international conventions to justify a pause of proceedings but made a U-turn on the issue when trial resumed.
During Friday's proceedings, Mr Kehinde argued that it was wrong for the defence to insist on having Mr Ajayi subpoenaed, citing a Supreme Court decision in Ishaq v. Soniyi. He submitted that the Supreme Court held that where a subpoena is directed to a named official, it will be absurd to insist that only the named officer can appear in compliance with the subpoena. The judge, Umar, postponed further proceedings until Friday for a ruling on whether Mr Ajayi can be compelled to appear in person.
Mr Sowore criticised the Bola Tinubu administration for allegedly using his trial to frustrate his campaign ahead of the 2027 general election. He alleged that the trial was being used to restrict his movement and make it difficult for him to travel across the country to mobilise supporters. Mr Sowore explained that the trial would not stop him from pursuing his political activities, stating that he can multitask and continue with his campaign.
Mr Sowore also criticised President Tinubu, accusing him of betraying Nigerians and saying his movement would seek to remove him through the electoral process. He questioned the prosecution's handling of the case, particularly its decision to call another witness. Mr Sowore stressed that his supporters would hold a "One Million Man March" in Lagos on Saturday as part of his political mobilisation.
The case arose from social media posts Mr Sowore made in August 2025, referring to President Tinubu as a "criminal" and accusing him of misrepresenting the level of corruption in Nigeria. The SSS brought the case against him over the posts. After the prosecution closed its case, Mr Sowore filed a no-case submission, which was dismissed by the judge in May.
The judge will deliver a ruling on 6 October on whether or not the SSS director general can be compelled to appear in person and testify as a defence witness. The trial's outcome will have implications for Mr Sowore's political activities and the broader issues of free speech and social media regulation in Nigeria.
Key points
- Omoyele Sowore wants SSS DG Tosin Ajayi to testify in his cyberbullying trial.
- The trial has been linked to Mr Sowore's political mobilisation and the 2027 general election.
- The judge will deliver a ruling on 6 October on Mr Ajayi's appearance.
