{
  "id": 4444337,
  "title": "AAC rejects DSS suspension of Sowore’s case, demands complete withdrawal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/aac-rejects-dss-suspension-of-sowores-case-demands-complete-withdrawal",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T15:06:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/aac-rejects-dss-suspension-of-sowores-case-demands-complete-withdrawal/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The African Action Congress (AAC) has rejected the Department of State Services' (DSS) suspension of the prosecution against its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore. In a statement, the AAC demanded a complete withdrawal of the case. They argued that there is no provision in Nigerian criminal procedure that allows a prosecutor to suspend a criminal trial indefinitely. The AAC accused the DSS of deploying state resources to prosecute Sowore over his criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing it as political persecution and a waste of public resources. The party listed seven demands, including the immediate discontinuation of the case, a formal apology and compensation for Sowore, and the return of his international passport, phones, electronic devices, and other personal property seized by the DSS.",
  "summary": "The African Action Congress has rejected the Department of State Services' suspension of a cyberbullying case against its presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore. The DSS had asked its private counsel to suspend the case until after the 2027 presidential election, citing a desire to allow Sowore to fully participate in the polls.\n\nAccording to the Daily Post Nigeria, the DSS Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, directed the lawyer to pause the case, which has been in court for nearly a year. The move is intended to allow Sowore to focus on his campaign.\n\nThe African Action Congress is demanding that the case be completely withdrawn and that an apology be issued. The DSS has not commented on the party's demands.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "DSS to suspend Sowore cybercrime case till after 2027 election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/dss-to-suspend-sowore-cybercrime-case-till-after-2027-election",
        "published": "2026-08-30T07:54:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Alleged cybercrime: DSS suspends Sowore’s case until after 2027 polls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/alleged-cybercrime-dss-suspends-sowores-case-until-after-2027-polls",
        "published": "2026-08-30T10:11:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "This Day",
        "title": "DSS Directs Counsel to Suspend Sowore’s Cybercrime Prosecution Until After 2027 Election",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/dss-directs-counsel-to-suspend-sowores-cybercrime-prosecution-until",
        "published": "2026-08-30T15:15:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}