Department of State Services launches investigation into courtroom brawl following decision to detain Sowore

The Department of State Services has taken note of the public's concerns regarding the events that unfolded at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 22, 2026, which resulted in Omoyele Sowore being remanded in Kuje Prison. This development came after viral videos surfaced, showcasing tension between the agency's operatives and Sowore's loyalists and supporters following the court order on Monday.

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Sowore is set to remain in custody until Wednesday, June 24, 2026, when the legal proceedings are scheduled to resume, as previously reported. The Department of State Services noted that it has been made aware of the concerns of some citizens over the events at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 22, 2026, which led to Sowore's remand in Kuje Prison, according to a statement by Favour Dozie, the agency's Deputy Director, Public Relations and Strategic Communications, on Tuesday.

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The Service expressed concern over the scene depicting Sowore's altercation with an official of the Custodial Center and a seeming scuffle with its operatives, and as a result, an investigation has been ordered. The Director General has ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged conduct of Service operatives involved in the incident, despite Sowore curiously opting for a DSS vehicle instead of that of the Correctional Service at the end of the saga.

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The DSS deemed it necessary to "set the records straight" regarding the events leading up to the matter, citing a social media post made by Sowore in 2025. On August 25, 2025, Omoyele Sowore made a post on his personal X and Facebook handles, wherein he stated "this criminal actually went to Brazil to state that there is NO MORE CORRUPTION in Nigeria, what audacity to lie shamelessly," thus disparaging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and embellishing his statement.

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Instead of proceeding with an arrest, the Service initially issued a demand for retraction, as stated in a letter dated September 4, 2025, which gave Sowore one week to comply. This approach is in line with the practice of the current DG-DSS to resolve such issues without using force, with the possibility of resorting to judicial interpretation if necessary.

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The statement cited other instances where the Service sought judicial interpretation rather than arrests, such as in the case of Prof. Pat Utomi's Shadow Government, where the Service sought a judicial explanation without making any arrests or invitations. The Federal High Court subsequently declared the Shadow Government unconstitutional.

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The DSS also referenced media-related disputes, including false publications on the Lagos State House of Assembly invasion by Service operatives and a similar report by Order Paper, alleging a barricade of the National Assembly Complex, where the Service demanded a public apology rather than apprehending anyone in both instances.

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The DSS noted that it withdrew all charges immediately after the defaulting media houses made a redress, demonstrating its commitment to resolving issues amicably. The Service further cited legal cases involving its operatives, including two Service operatives who sought judicial redress and won their cases against SERAP for defamation and libel on their false alarm of an invasion by the said operatives.

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In the same vein, the Court delivered judgment in favor of the said operatives, highlighting the Service's commitment to upholding the law. The DSS stated that all actions taken in the Sowore matter were within legal processes, as outlined in SSS Instrument No. 1 of 1999, made pursuant to the NSA Act of 1986.

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The Service filed charges against Sowore for contravening section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc) Amendment Act, 2024, in a suit FHC/ABJ/CR/481/2025, seeking a judicial interpretation of his right or otherwise to disparage and cyberbully the President. The DSS did not oppose bail granted to the defendant, as Sowore was granted bail on self-recognition even without a surety at the commencement of the trial.

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The release declared that the public may wish to note that the Service did not oppose Sowore's bail, a development that Sowore himself applauded. The remand followed court processes rather than enforcement action by the Service, as the issues that led to his bail revocation and subsequent remand were entirely premised on the court processes.

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The DSS concluded that it neither arrested nor opposed Sowore's bail, and the Service assures of sustained priority to professionalism, with emphasis on civility in its operations, even in the face of provocation. The DSS therefore assures the public of its commitment to upholding the law and maintaining professionalism in all its operations.