Sowore drops attempt to compel DSS chief to testify in libel case

On Tuesday, human rights activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress withdrew his request to subpoena Oluwatosin Ajayi, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, to testify in his alleged criminal defamation trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

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Sowore's decision was based on the realization that the evidence he sought from the DSS Director-General could be obtained through another official of the service, rendering Ajayi's testimony unnecessary.

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The development came after Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, who represented the Federal Government, objected to the subpoena issued to Ajayi, arguing that the document the DSS chief was expected to provide was not authored or signed by him.

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Fagbemi further argued that the document in question, a letter asking Sowore to delete a Facebook post describing President Bola Tinubu as a "criminal", had already been tendered and admitted as evidence twice by the court.

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The AGF also pointed out that Uwen Davis, the author of the letter, had testified on July 22, making Ajayi's appearance redundant, and that the defence had already presented the document as evidence.

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Counsel for Sowore, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, initially opposed the AGF's intervention, citing that another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Akinlolu Kehinde, was already the counsel on record for the Federal Government.

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Olumide-Fusika argued that while the Attorney General has the constitutional authority to appear in any matter, the defence should have been given due notice before the AGF took over the prosecution.

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Earlier in the proceedings, the court confirmed that the subpoena had been served on the Director of Legal Services of the DSS, as informed by the court registrar to Justice Mohammed Umar.

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The Federal Government, however, claimed that Ajayi was unaware of the service and requested the court to vacate the subpoena and direct the defence to proceed with its case.

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Following the arguments, Sowore decided not to insist on Ajayi's appearance, acknowledging that the evidence sought could be obtained through another official of the service.

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Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until August 3 for the continuation of the defence.