The Federal High Court in Abuja rules that another authorised DSS official can testify on the agency’s official activities in the case concerning alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News Desk
The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the 2027 general election, seeking to compel Department of State Services (DSS) Director-General Tosin Ajayi to appear personally as a defence witness in his trial over allegations involving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar delivered the ruling on Monday, October 19, 2026, after considering arguments from Sowore’s legal team and counsel representing the DSS.
Sowore, through his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide Fusika, SAN, had asked the court to enforce a subpoena requiring Ajayi to testify about the security agency’s official activities relating to the case. The defence sought the director-general’s personal appearance as part of its presentation of evidence.
However, DSS counsel Akinlolu Thomas Kehinde, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the matters concerned the agency’s official responsibilities rather than the director-general’s personal activities. He maintained that an authorised official with relevant knowledge could provide the required evidence on behalf of the service.
In his ruling, Justice Umar held that the subpoena concerned official acts of the DSS and that the expected testimony was not personal to Ajayi. The court consequently ruled that another official of the agency could appear to testify on its behalf.
Following the ruling, the defence called Michael Jego, a DSS investigating officer, as its third witness. His appearance allowed the defence to continue presenting its case without the court compelling the agency’s director-general to testify personally.
Sowore is standing trial over social media posts published in August 2025 in which he allegedly described Tinubu as a criminal and accused the president of misrepresenting the level of corruption in Nigeria. The Federal Government’s case concerns allegations relating to cyberbullying and the publications in question. Sowore has contested the proceedings, and the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
The latest decision concerns the identity of the DSS representative required to testify, rather than the substantive allegations against Sowore. It does not amount to a final determination of his guilt or innocence.
The proceedings form part of the ongoing legal case involving the activist, the DSS and the President. With Michael Jego appearing as a defence witness, the court’s attention remains on the evidence presented by the parties as the trial continues.
Be the first to comment