SSS Denies Arresting Sowore in Court, Says his Supporters Stage-managed the Scene

Malik Yahya/

The State Security Service, otherwise known as the Department of State Services (DSS), has said its officers did not arrest activist and convener of the #RevolutionNow Protest, Omoyele Sowore, in court.

The DSS in a statement claimed that Sowore’s supporters were only acting an “orchestrated drama”.

The statement signed by Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesperson, says none of its officers was involved in the incidents recorded in the courtroom.

The statement reads in part, “It has become important that the Department of State Services responds to the serial misinformation being circulated in the media about its involvement in the incident that occurred on 6th December, 2019 at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

“It is instructive to note that during the court proceeding of the day under reference, Defence Counsel, Femi FALANA (SAN), called the attention of the Judge to a suspicion that the Service was planning to re-arrest Omoyele SOWORE immediately after the court session. The Court discountenanced his alarm and asserted that the Service was law abiding and would not engage in such and subsequently adjourned to February, 2020.

“However, when SOWORE stepped out of the court and sighted operatives of the Service within the premises, he ran back into the courtroom. In a bid to shield him from an imaginary arrest, his uncontrollable supporters mobbed him while chanting ‘you can’t arrest him’ thus the pandemonium that ensued.

“A critical look at the videos in circulation would convince any objective viewer that there was no DSS personnel during the entire period the Sowore crowd acted out its orchestrated drama. Its personnel were never, at any time, involved in the incident.”