DSS cracks down on online critics, uses Sowore case as warning
By: Abudu Olalekan
The DSS means business. And they’re using Omoyele Sowore to prove it.
At that book launch in Abuja, DG Ajayi didn’t mince words. Online insults against government officials? That’s going to cost you. He wants the full weight of the Cybercrimes Act brought down on offenders.
Their plan is simple: pick a few high-profile cases, make examples, send a message.
“We’ve selected cases that will have impact,” Ajayi said. “Convict one, others will think twice.”
And Sowore’s case? That’s one of them. The activist is in court for calling President Tinubu a criminal on social media. The DSS won’t name names – can’t with the case in court – but we all know who they mean.
Sowore’s facing serious charges: cyberstalking, criminal defamation. There’s a ₦200m bail bond. And the DSS is pushing hard for a conviction.
Ajayi’s warning was stark. Let this slide and it gets worse. “If you allow these crimes, you’re waiting for violence. First they insult, next they might kill.”
But not everyone’s on board. Former NBA President Wole Olanipekun says Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act needs a hard look. He wants judges and lawyers to question how it’s being used.
“We can’t just accept this law without scrutiny,” Olanipekun said. “Section 24 – that’s the problematic one.”
The EFCC’s Olukoyede had his own stories. A judge who lost ₦7.2m to scammers. 70 people prosecuted for terrorism financing. And they’re using AI now for investigations. But here’s the problem – the laws haven’t caught up with the tech.
Solicitor-General Jedy-Agba talked about the importance of electronic evidence these days. Praised the new books on the subject.
So what’s the bottom line? The DSS is cracking down hard on online critics. They’re using Sowore’s case to send a message. And the legal community is divided on whether this is the right approach.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
