A Federal High Court in Abuja has dominated that the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, isn’t required to testify in individual within the ongoing cyberbullying trial of on-line writer Omoyele Sowore.
Justice Mohammed Umar gave the ruling on Monday, holding that one other officer with adequate data of the company’s official actions might testify on the director-general’s behalf.
“To say it must be the DG that must appear before this court to testify in respect of an official act carried out by the SSS in this case will not serve the interests of justice,” the decide mentioned.
The ruling adopted objections from Sowore’s authorized staff, which insisted that Ajayi seem as a court-summoned defence witness. The staff argued that the DSS had breached an earlier understanding to ship an officer to testify on his behalf throughout earlier proceedings.
In its ruling, the court docket held that the director-general or any designated officer with full data of the Service’s official actions and different related issues might testify for the defendant.
Justice Umar additional said that “the testimony that is expected from the Director General is not personal, but in respect of an official act or engagement.”
Following the ruling, Michael Jego, a member of the DSS investigation staff, took the witness stand to testify on behalf of the director-general.
Jego advised the court docket that he was a part of the staff that flagged Sowore’s posts on X and Facebook and suggested him to retract them.
He mentioned the posts, revealed on 26 August 2025, had the potential to pose a big risk to nationwide safety. He additionally testified that he was a part of the staff that monitored reactions to the publications.
During cross-examination by Sowore’s counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), Jego mentioned President Bola Tinubu’s remarks throughout an outing in Brazil had been taken out of context.
The fees in opposition to Sowore stem from a submit reacting to a video of Tinubu talking in Brazil, through which the President claimed his administration had ended or considerably decreased corruption in Nigeria.
Sowore wrote: “THIS CRIMINAL @ OFFICIAL PBAT ACTUALLY WENT TO BRAZIL TO STATE THAT THERE IS NO MORE CORRUPTION UNDER HIS REGIME IN NIGERIA. WHAT AUDACITY TO LIE SHAMELESSLY!”
The assertion types the idea of the costs in opposition to the writer, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Sowore can also be the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for the 2027 common election.
The court docket adjourned the case till Monday, 26 October, for continuation of the trial.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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