Sowore Withdraws Move to Subpoena DSS Boss in Tinubu Defamation Trial

Human rights activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has withdrawn his bid to subpoena the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Adeola Ajayi, as a witness in his ongoing criminal defamation trial involving President Bola Tinubu.

Sowore informed the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday that the evidence he initially sought from the DSS Director-General could be obtained through another official of the agency.

The development came as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), personally appeared to lead the Federal Government’s prosecution for the first time since the case commenced.

Fagbemi opposed the subpoena issued to the DSS chief, arguing that the document the defence intended to rely on was not authored by Ajayi but by another DSS official who had already testified before the court.

He told the court that the DSS letter advising Sowore to delete social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Tinubu as a “criminal” had already been admitted into evidence twice, making any further attempt to tender it unnecessary.

The Attorney-General further noted that Uwen Davis, the DSS officer who authored the letter, had testified on July 22 and that the document was already before the court.

However, Sowore’s counsel, Olumide Fusika (SAN), challenged the Attorney-General’s appearance, contending that Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN) remained the Federal Government’s counsel on record in the matter.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge, Justice Muhammed Umar, adjourned the case until August 3, 2026, for the continuation of the defence.