DSS Gives Sowore One-Week Ultimatum To Retract Posts Criticising President Tinubu
DSS Gives Sowore One-Week Ultimatum To Retract Posts Criticising President Tinubu
This was stated in a letter dated September 7, 2025, and signed by the DSS Director of Legal Services, Uwem Davies.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has issued a one-week ultimatum to human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, demanding that he retract his social media posts about President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This was stated in a letter dated September 7, 2025, and signed by the DSS Director of Legal Services, Uwem Davies.
The agency accused Sowore of making criminal and derogatory remarks against the President in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on August 26, 2025.
The social media posts in question saw Sowore called out Tinubu after accusing the Nigerian leader of lying to citizens when he told an audience in Brazil that corruption no longer existed under his administration.
According to the DSS, Sowore’s remarks amounted to an attack on national security and public order.
The agency claimed the comments had “sparked anger among citizens and could incite public disturbance, disunity, and even insurrection.”
The secret police warned that failure to comply with its demand within the one-week period would leave it with no choice but to “explore all lawful means to protect national security and public order.”
“Your choice of words in the description of the President is false, malicious, and capable of inciting public disturbance, disunity, and breakdown of law and order,” the DSS said in the letter addressed to Sowore.
“These statements are to say the least capable of causing insurrection, as they are odious, repugnant, derogatory, and uncomplimentary towards a person occupying the highest office of this country.”
The DSS ordered Sowore to immediately retract the post on X, using the same platform and with the same level of visibility as the original statement.
The agency also directed him to issue a public apology, to be published in at least two widely circulated national newspapers and broadcast on two television stations with nationwide reach.
In addition, Sowore was instructed to submit a formal representation to the DSS headquarters at No. 1 Maitama Avenue, Three Arms Zone, Abuja, or through the agency’s official email addresses, within one week of receiving the letter.
“Make an immediate and unequivocal retraction of the false and repugnant post through the same platform and with the same prominence as the initial post; publish a public apology in at least two national dailies and two television stations with national spread; and send your representation within one week of receipt of this letter,” the letter read in part.
The DSS also copied the United States Embassy in Abuja, suggesting the matter has drawn the attention of diplomatic circles, given Sowore’s dual residency in Nigeria and the United States.
“Persons of your status who are campaigning to lead this country as critical stakeholders of democracy must be of high integrity and therefore should exercise restraint and responsibility in their speech as well as action.”
“Such individuals and organisations must, in addition, tailor their comments towards promoting peace, security, and good governance in the country,” the DSS added.
“The DSS is a security intelligence organisation that has its mandate, inter alia, to ensure that Nigerians are not deceived with false propaganda.
“Consequently, if you fail to correct this false narrative, the Service shall, without further recourse to you, initiate measures it deems most appropriate within the ambit of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” DSS declared.
