Human rights activist and African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has rejected a proposal by the Department of State Services (DSS) to suspend his ongoing cybercrime trial until after the 2027 general elections.
Sowore is instead demanding that the DSS withdraw the charges against him and publicly apologise, arguing that the security agency should not seek to determine the timing of judicial proceedings through public statements.
The development followed a request by the DSS for the proceedings to be delayed until after the 2027 elections, amid continuing controversy over the case.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has also called on the Federal Government and the DSS to immediately withdraw the charges against Sowore.
SERAP described the charges as baseless and called on the government to end what it characterised as continued harassment and intimidation of the activist over his exercise of human rights.
The organisation's intervention has further intensified debate over the prosecution and the broader relationship between security agencies, political criticism and freedom of expression.
Sowore's lead counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adenyinka Olumide-Fusika, said during a television interview that whether his client has a case to answer remains a matter for the court to determine.
The senior lawyer said he did not want to prejudge the judicial process by declaring whether the allegations against Sowore had merit.
However, he questioned the manner in which the DSS announced its intention to seek an adjournment of the case.
According to him, if the prosecution intends to request an adjournment, the appropriate procedure is to communicate with the opposing side and make the application before the court rather than issue a public statement that could create the impression that the security agency controls the judicial process.
Olumide-Fusika argued that the DSS is a state institution and should not be perceived as an extension of any political personality or political party.
He said the agency should be particularly careful not to become drawn into political controversies.
According to the lawyer, the DSS's decision to publicly announce an intention to delay the trial could unnecessarily expose the institution to allegations of political involvement.
He maintained that judicial proceedings should be handled through the courts and in accordance with established legal procedures.
The interview also examined whether Sowore's prosecution could be interpreted as political targeting.
Olumide-Fusika was cautious about making a definitive judgment on the issue, noting that political figures frequently make strong or insulting statements against one another without necessarily becoming subjects of criminal prosecution.
He argued that political speech and criticism must be considered within the broader context of democratic debate.
The discussion also touched on comments made by politicians against one another, with the lawyer suggesting that political exchanges in Nigeria can frequently become highly confrontational.
The lawyer maintained that the question of whether Sowore committed an offence should ultimately be determined through judicial proceedings.
He said the defence would present its arguments before the court rather than attempt to determine the outcome through the media.
At the same time, he urged the DSS to avoid actions that could damage public confidence in the independence of state institutions.
The dispute has taken on additional significance because Sowore is a political activist and presidential aspirant whose political activities are expected to continue ahead of the 2027 elections.
The DSS's proposed postponement of the trial has consequently generated questions about whether delaying proceedings could prevent the case from becoming an issue during the election season or, alternatively, create further suspicions about the agency's motives.
For Sowore and his legal team, however, the preferred solution is not simply to postpone the proceedings but for the DSS to withdraw the charges and apologise.
The controversy has once again placed issues of freedom of expression, the powers of security agencies, judicial independence and political accountability at the centre of Nigeria's democratic debate.
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