Sowore Sues DSS for ₦5 Billion Over Court Assault

Omoyele Sowore, a human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, has initiated a ₦5 billion fundamental rights enforcement suit against the Department of State Services (DSS) and several officials, including its Director-General Tosin Ajayi and Attorney-General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2480/2026, was filed on October 13, 2026, following an alleged assault and forcible removal from the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 22, 2026.

Sowore claims that armed DSS operatives assaulted him and forcibly removed him from the court premises, despite a judicial order mandating his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre. He alleges that the operatives used elevators reserved for judges to transport him against his will, resulting in physical injuries.

Sowore is seeking a court determination on whether the DSS acted outside the judicial order and is claiming ₦5 billion in aggravated damages for violations of his rights. He intends to use video footage recorded during the incident as evidence.