DSS Breaks Silence Over Court Scuffle With Sowore, Orders Probe

The Department of State Services (DSS) has ordered an investigation into the conduct of its operatives who were involved in a court scuffle with activist Omoyele Sowore.

Naija News reports that viral videos had shown tension between the agency’s operatives and Sowore’s loyalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja following a court order remanding the activist in Kuje prison.

Reacting to the development, the agency’s Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, Favour Dozie, in a statement on Tuesday, said that it has noted public concerns and was looking into the situation.

“The Department of State Services (DSS) has noted concerns of some citizens over events at a Federal High Court in Abuja on 22nd June 2026, leading to the remand of Omoyele Sowore in Kuje Prison,” the statement said.

The Service said it was also concerned about “the scene depicting Sowore’s altercation with an official of the Custodial Centre and a seeming scuffle with operatives of the Service,” adding that an investigation has been ordered.

“Although at the end of the saga, he curiously opted for a DSS vehicle instead of that of the Correctional Service, the Director General has ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged conduct of Service operatives involved in the incident,” the agency noted.

The DSS said it was necessary to “set the records straight” regarding events leading up to the matter.

On the basis of a social media post made in 2025, the Service said: “On 25th August 2025, Omoyele Sowore made a post on his personal X and Facebook handles, wherein he stated ‘this criminal actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE CORRUPTION in Nigeria. What audacity to lie shamelessly.’ Thus, disparaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and embellishing his statement.”

The DSS said it initially did not proceed with an arrest, instead issuing a demand for retraction.

It further read, “Rather than resort to arrest, the Service, in a letter dated 4th September, 2025, demanded a retraction within one week. This is 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.”

The statement cited other instances in which the Service said it had sought judicial interpretation rather than arrests.

“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,” it stated.

DSS continued, “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.”

The DSS said, “It is on record that, DSS withdrew all charges immediately after the defaulting media houses made a redress.”

The Service further cited legal cases involving its operatives.

It also referenced media-related disputes.

“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,” the release read.

It said all actions taken in the Sowore matter were within legal processes.

“Therefore, in line with SSS Instrument No. 1 of 1999, made pursuant to NSA Act of 1986, the Service filed charges against Sowore for contravening section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024 in a suit FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025 seeking a judicial interpretation of his right or otherwise to disparage and cyberbully the President,” it said.

The DSS added that it did not oppose bail granted to the defendant.

The release declared, “The public may wish to note that, Sowore was granted bail on self-recognition even without a surety at the commencement of the trial, a position the Service did not oppose and even Sowore applauded the development.”

It concluded that the remand followed court processes rather than enforcement action by the Service.