Sowore Sues DSS, AGF Over Alleged Courtroom Attack, Demands ₦5bn Damages

Human rights activist and publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, has sued the Department of State Services (DSS), its Director-General, Tosin Ajayi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and a deputy director of the service, Benjamin Bulus, over an alleged assault and abduction at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Sowore is demanding ₦5 billion in aggravated damages over the alleged incident, which he said occurred on June 22, 2026, within the court premises.

The suit, filed on October 13, 2026, and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2480/2026, seeks to enforce his fundamental rights to dignity and personal liberty under Sections 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

According to a statement issued by his counsel, Peter Femi Joseph of FEMJOE & Associates, the activist alleged that armed and hooded DSS operatives attacked him and forcibly moved him from the fourth floor of the court building to its basement.

Sowore claimed the operatives acted outside the scope of a court order directing his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of his application for a stay of the order revoking his bail and the bench warrant issued against him.

The statement said Sowore was awaiting the arrival of correctional officers to implement the remand order when the operatives allegedly stormed the fourth floor, assaulted him and forcibly took him to the basement using elevators reserved for judges.

He alleged that he sustained injuries during the incident and argued that the remand order did not authorise security operatives to assault, intimidate or subject him to degrading treatment.

The suit identifies Ajayi as the DSS director-general and Bulus as the deputy director and operative who allegedly led the operation.

Sowore Relies On Smart Glasses Footage

A key element of the case is video footage that Sowore said was recorded using Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses during the incident.

According to his counsel, the footage forms part of the materials submitted for the court’s consideration and is intended to support his account of the alleged attack and the conduct of the operatives.