Come And Defend Yourself, Don’t Hide Behind AGF Fagbemi’ — Sowore Knocks DSS DG Tosin Ajayi After Dodging Court Testimony
‘Come And Defend Yourself, Don’t Hide Behind AGF Fagbemi’ — Sowore Knocks DSS DG Tosin Ajayi After Dodging Court Testimony
Sowore made this known on Tuesday shortly after proceedings before Justice Mohammed Umar at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the DSS is prosecuting him over allegations arising from his description of President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has accused the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Tosin Ajayi, of avoiding appearing before the Federal High Court in Abuja to testify under a subpoena.
Sowore noted that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stepped in to shield the DSS chief from giving evidence.
Sowore made this known on Tuesday shortly after proceedings before Justice Mohammed Umar at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the DSS is prosecuting him over allegations arising from his description of President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”
Addressing journalists after the hearing, Sowore described the Attorney General’s appearance in court as unusual, claiming it was an attempt by the Federal Government to prevent the DSS Director-General from complying with the court’s subpoena.
“As you all are aware, the Attorney General of the Federation was in court to represent the federal government in the case. Very bizarre. It was meant, in our view, to ambush us,” Sowore said.
“And the argument was that he was making an application that the DG of DSS cannot come and testify under subpoena. We were expecting the DG of DSS because he has been saying that he knows everything; he is very smart. He said this is a Federal High Court.”
Sowore challenged the DSS chief to personally appear before the court and defend official correspondence allegedly issued from his office.
“Come here and defend the letter that has been emanating from your office. Don’t forget that one of his people said that his signature was forged last time in one of the letters. So the Attorney General apparently was there to protect the DSS DG who had developed cold feet after he received his subpoena.”
The activist praised his legal team, led by senior lawyer Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, for successfully opposing the Attorney General’s legal manoeuvre.
“But our lawyers, as you know them, which were described generously even by the Attorney General, these ebullient, fierce lawyers, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, were able to obliterate his appearance. I use the word ‘obliterate.’ It was not supposed to be on record until it was reconciled that his appearance would be taken as notice.”
Sowore also disclosed that during the court proceedings, the Attorney General acknowledged that he was a “public fighter” but suggested that there were limits to such activism.
“But once it happened in court, for your records, the Attorney General was brought to the attention that the person on trial is a public fighter. The Attorney General confirmed it. But he said there are limits.
“There is no limit to fighting for justice as far as we are concerned. If there are going to be limits, it’s going to be limitations based on known rules, international treaties, laws—not a fiat or the will and caprices of anybody in office. So that was the outcome of today’s outing.”
Sowore further accused the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) of allegedly misrepresenting court proceedings in previous reports.
“Like I said, you might get out of here and the News Agency of Nigeria has written a different story and circulated it to misrepresent what happened. But this is exactly what happened. I’m glad to answer your questions.”
While criticising other government officials over intimidation of citizens and litigants, Sowore said the Attorney General conducted himself professionally during the proceedings, although he stopped short of expressing trust in him.
“I want to accept or say this, not to praise anyone. The Attorney General conducted himself as a public officer, unlike the rest of them who come to the court, slap people, abduct people, intimidate.
“I don’t know if his appearance was meant to intimidate anybody, but that did not happen because there are very competent counsels who have been involved in this matter.”
He added that public officials may be gradually realising that accountability extends beyond their time in office.
“You rarely hear this from me, the way I talk about public officers. If they are conducting themselves well, it is not as if they should be trusted. It might be that that’s a different strategy.
“But it could also be that because of this constant struggle to save our country, they are learning that there’s life after office. They are learning that there’s life after office.”
Speaking on whether the DSS Director-General could still be compelled to testify, Sowore said the decision now rests with his lead counsel and the Attorney General’s office.
“Well, that’s going to be a decision taken between our lead lawyer and the Attorney General’s office, who have said they will explore if they have other people who can represent the issue. I’m not to speak on that.”
However, he insisted that one of the objectives of the defence was to compel public officials to personally account for actions taken while in office.
“What I can say categorically is that part of the point we want to prove is that some of these people who are doing tough-guy acts in office, when they are asked to account for their stewardship, they develop cold feet.
“This DSS DG, as we tell everybody, is the most brilliant DG DSS. Come and show it here. You are running away. You want to beg the Attorney General, please come and help me.
“We would have loved to see his brilliance shine through the dark today.”
Sowore further accused the DSS chief of acting with impunity while refusing to defend the agency’s actions before the court.
“You have been saying you have been arresting everybody. Even when they arrested my assistant, they stole all her phones. Come and defend why you are the person who is acting on behalf of the President.”
