Nigeria’s secret police, the Department of State Services (DSS), has distanced itself from the recent ordeal of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on Monday after failing to appear for a previous court hearing.
The DSS is currently prosecuting him for alleged cyberbullying, following social media posts on X and Facebook where he reportedly referred to President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
The DSS faced widespread backlash over Sowore’s remand and the treatment he received from its operatives while en route to the prison.
Responding to the public outcry, Favour Dozie, the DSS Deputy Director of Public Relations and Strategic Communications, issued a statement on Tuesday evening acknowledging public concerns.
Dozie explained that following a “seeming altercation” involving DSS operatives and correctional officers, Sowore actually chose to be transported to Kuje prison in a DSS vehicle.
Nonetheless, the statement confirmed that the Director General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, has ordered an immediate investigation into the conduct of the personnel involved in the incident.
But while absolving itself from the ongoing ordeal of Sowore, the DSS said the presidential candidate was taken to court after he failed to retract the statement he made on 25th August 2025, on his personal X and Facebook handles against President Tinubu.
The Service said rather than move to immediately arrest him for prosecution, it asked Sowore to retract his statement within one week in a letter dated 4th September 2025, a move which, according to it, was in line with the practice of the current DG-DSS to resolve such issues without use of force, failure to which it may resort to judicial interpretation.
“Specifically, in the case of Prof. Pat Utomi’s Shadow Government, the Service sought a judicial explanation even without any arrest or invitation. The Federal High Court thereafter declared the Shadow Government unconstitutional.
“Also, the false publications on Lagos State House of Assembly invasion by Service operatives and a similar report by Order Paper, alleging a barricade of the National Assembly Complex, the Service demanded a public apology rather than apprehend anyone in both instances. It is on record that, DSS withdrew all charges immediately after the defaulting media houses made a redress.City & Local Guides
“In the same vein, two Service operatives sought judicial redress and won their cases against SERAP for defamation and libel on their false alarm of an invasion by the said operatives. In this case also, the Court delivered judgment in favour of the said operatives. In all these, the Service maintained its hygiene and adherence to rule of law,” the DSS stated.
The Service, therefore, added that it filed charges against Sowore for contravening section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024 seeking a judicial interpretation of his right or otherwise to disparage and cyberbully the President after he failed to retract his statement.
It also noted that Sowore was granted bail on self-recognition even without a surety at the commencement of the trial.
DSS said it did not oppose the bail application and Sowore applauded the development.
“From the foregoing, it is clear the issues that led to his bail revocation and subsequent remand were entirely premised on the court processes, as the Service neither arrested nor opposed his bail. DSS therefore assures of sustained priority to professionalism, with emphasis on civility in its operations, even at the face of provocation,” it concluded in the statement.
Persecondnews reports that Sowore is expected back in court today (June 24) for hearing of the application he filed against revocation of his bail.
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