Alleged defamation: Sowore drops decision to summon DSS boss as witness

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, made a surprise appearance for the prosecution in Mr Sowore’s cyberstalking trial on Tuesday to block the summons issued for the DG of SSS to appear as defence witness. The post Cyberstalking Trial: Sowore drops request to summon DG of SSS appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria. Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, on Tuesday rescinded his earlier decision to invite Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), to testify in his defence in the ongoing trial for alleged criminal defamation.

Sowore, through his lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, made this known shortly before the conclusion of proceeding before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendant was alleged to have made false claims against the person of President Bola Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in a post he made on his “X” and Facebook accounts. Against this development, the DSS charged Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), with criminal defamation, cyberstalking and incitement.

Olumide-Fusika had, on July 22, indicated his intention to apply for a subpoena on the DG of DSS. The lawyer had wanted Ajayi to appear to testify on his client’s behalf and produce a document: a letter dated Sept. 7, 2025, asking Sowore to retract his alleged criminal defamatory posts about Tinubu.

He said his decision to invite the DG, DSS, was because of the alleged inability of the official of the service, Uwem Davies, who appeared as the second defence witness on subpoena, to adequately address questions he raised in relation to the Sept. He had said that since Davies, who authored the said letter, told the court that he acted on the directive of the DG, DSS, it was necessary for Ajayi to appear and shed more light on the letter. At Tuesday’s hearing, Olumide-Fusika later changed his mind on the issue after a heated argument on the propriety of the appearance of Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), in the case without prior notice.

Earlier when the case was called, Fagbemi announced appearance for the prosecution. Responding, Olumide-Fusika said the matter was scheduled for continuation of defence. He, however, said that he could observe that “the prosecution is reinforced with the presence of the AGF and DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN)”.

According to him, I don’t know if there is a reason why they are here. I hope you are not intimidated?” Justice Umar asked. “I am my lord,” Olumide-Fusika responded in a lighter mood.