Sowore Drops Bid To Summon DSS Chief In Tinubu Defamation Trial

AAC presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has withdrawn his request to compel the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, to testify in his ongoing criminal defamation trial over alleged defamatory social media posts about President Bola Tinubu.

Sowore told the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that the evidence he intended to obtain from the DSS Director-General could instead be provided by another official of the agency, effectively abandoning plans to subpoena Ajayi.

The development came as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), personally led the prosecution for the first time since the trial began on behalf of the Federal Government.

Fagbemi opposed the subpoena earlier issued to the DSS chief, arguing that the document at the centre of the dispute was not authored by Ajayi but by another DSS official who had already testified before the court.

According to the Attorney-General, the DSS letter advising Sowore to delete social media posts in which he allegedly described President Tinubu as a “criminal” had already been admitted as evidence on two occasions during the trial, making any further attempt to tender it unnecessary.

He also noted that the author of the letter, Mr Uwen Davis, appeared before the court as a defence witness on July 22 and had already testified on the matter.

Counsel to Sowore, Olumide Fusika (SAN), questioned the Attorney-General’s appearance in the case, arguing that Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) remained the counsel officially representing the Federal Government in the proceedings.

After hearing both parties, Justice Muhammed Umar adjourned the case until August 3 for the continuation of Sowore’s defence.