Aisha Yesufu questions DSS over Sowore case

Aisha Yesufu, a human rights advocate and member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has questioned the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding its involvement in the prosecution of activist Omoyele Sowore, raising concerns about the agency involvement in a case involving remarks made about President Bola Tinubu.

Yesufu made his remarks in response to a DSS statement about Sowore’s prosecution and remand.

According to the DSS statement, Sowore was charged under the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, Amendment Act, 2024 for allegedly calling President Bola Tinubu “this criminal” in a social media post.

In response to the development, Yesufu questioned why the security agency became involved, contending that the President should personally pursue any dispute resulting from the statement through legal means.

“Mr. Sowore, you mentioned ‘this criminal’ in your statement. How does that affect your agency’s operations?” she enquired.

She further insisted that rather than involving the DSS, President Tinubu should pursue legal action if he believed the remark to be untrue or defamatory.

“If Mr. Tinubu is not a criminal, why would that bother him to the extent of involving your agency?” Yesufu continued. Why would he even be triggered by that?

Why wouldn’t Mr. Tinubu file a lawsuit if he believes it doesn’t accurately reflect who he is? In all of this, what is your business?

She also questioned the agency’s emphasis on the issue in light of the nation’s security issues.

Nigeria’s territorial integrity is in danger. You only pay attention to the fact that a Nigerian citizen called Mr. Tinubu “this criminal” when lives and property are no longer safe in Nigeria?

The DSS stated that Sowore’s incarceration was the result of court processes and that the agency had neither arrested him nor opposed his bail in the statement that sparked the outcry.

Additionally, the agency said that it had brought charges in order to get a judge to decide whether Sowore had the right to use his social media posts to insult and cyberbully the President.