Federal High Court Abuja has dismissed an application by activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, seeking to compel the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Tosin Ajayi, to appear personally as a witness in his trial over alleged cyberbullying of President Bola Tinubu.
Justice Mohammed Garba Umar delivered the ruling on Monday after considering arguments from the defence and the DSS.
Sowore, through his counsel, Olumide Fusika, SAN, had asked the court to enforce a subpoena requiring the DSS Director-General to testify on the agency’s official activities relating to the case.
However, the DSS, represented by Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, opposed the application, arguing that the matters in question concerned the agency’s official functions and did not require the Director-General’s personal appearance.
The DSS lawyer maintained that any authorised official with relevant knowledge could testify on behalf of the agency.
In dismissing the application, Justice Umar held that the subpoena related to official duties of the DSS rather than matters personal to its Director-General.
The court ruled that another official of the service could provide the required evidence.
Following the ruling, defence counsel called Michael Jego, a DSS investigating officer, as the third defence witness.
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(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
