Sowore Accuses DSS DG of Cowardice, Attacks APC Chieftain Igbokwe

ABUJA — Activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, and an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Joe Igbokwe, over their alleged involvement in his ongoing cybercrime trial.

Sowore made the remarks while addressing journalists at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, following court proceedings in the case arising from his social media posts about President Bola Tinubu.

The activist accused Ajayi of failing to appear personally in court, alleging that the DSS director-general sent a representative in his place.

He described the DSS chief as a coward, insisting that Ajayi had initiated the dispute but was allegedly avoiding his responsibilities in the legal proceedings.

“The DSS DG was supposed to come, but he is a coward; he has been running away from his responsibilities. He started this fight, we didn't run away but he is running away,” Sowore said.

The AAC presidential candidate also claimed that the DSS had identified Igbokwe, a prominent supporter of the ruling APC, as a witness in the alleged cybercrime case.

He subsequently launched a verbal attack on the APC chieftain, questioning his conduct and making disparaging remarks about his political affiliations.

“Joe Igbokwe lost his mind a long time ago and he has lost every sense of decency. He used to be decent but there is nothing that happens that APC does to your brain that doesn't reduce you to dust,” Sowore said.

He further alleged that the DSS had identified supporters of President Tinubu in connection with the case, describing Igbokwe as one of the president's most prominent supporters.

However, the allegations and remarks made by Sowore represent his position on the matter. No response from Ajayi or Igbokwe was included in the report.

Sowore is standing trial over social media publications in which he allegedly described President Tinubu as a “criminal”. The case has drawn attention to the intersection of political expression, social media activity and the enforcement of cybercrime laws in Nigeria.

The activist has remained a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration and has frequently challenged government institutions over issues relating to governance, civil liberties and political accountability.

The latest confrontation underscores the continuing tension between Sowore and government authorities as the legal proceedings over his social media posts continue.