The Department of State Services (DSS) clarified on Wednesday that it was not responsible for the incarceration of publisher and activist Omoyele Sowore at the Kuje Custodial Centre. The agency emphasized that his remand was a direct consequence of court orders rather than an executive action taken by the service.
This clarification follows public scrutiny regarding the events at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Favour Dozie, representing the agency, stated that the DSS neither initiated the arrest nor challenged the bail application, which was ultimately revoked by the court process. Furthermore, DSS Director-General Adeola Ajayi has initiated a formal investigation into the behavior of officers caught on video during the June 22 court proceedings, following reports of a confrontation between Sowore and Nigerian Correctional Service staff.
The agency explained that its legal battle with Sowore began in August 2025 regarding social media posts about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Instead of an immediate arrest, the DSS claimed it initially requested a retraction in September 2025, adhering to its director-general’s policy of prioritizing legal resolution or dialogue over force. The resulting criminal case, filed under the Cybercrimes Act, sought a judicial ruling on whether his remarks breached legal standards.
To bolster its claim of operating within the rule of law, the DSS highlighted previous instances where it pursued judicial remedies rather than detentions, such as the legal challenge against Pat Utomi’s Shadow Government initiative. The agency reaffirmed that it did not oppose Sowore’s initial release on bail, noting that he was granted release on self-recognition, and it pledged to maintain professional standards in future interactions.
