Group Criticises Sowore Over Leaked Court Footage

The Northern Ethnic Youth Group Assembly has called for the prosecution of politician and former African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore over the alleged leaking of video footage from an ongoing court proceeding involving the Department of State Services (DSS).

The group accused Sowore of contempt of court and violating national security laws by allegedly circulating a video showing his lawyer cross-examining a DSS operative in a cyberbullying case filed against him by the agency.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Alhaji Ibrahim Dan-Musa, the group described the leaked footage as “contempt of court, a mockery of our judicial system and, above all, a serious breach of national security.”

The group claimed the video — allegedly leaked by Sowore — revealed the identity of a DSS operative, violating the National Security Agencies Act (1986) and the Official Secrets Act (1962). “In the United States, where Sowore lived for decades, revealing the identity of a secret service agent is a violation of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act and constitutes a serious crime,” the statement said.

“In Nigeria, exposing the identity of a secret service operative who has sworn an oath of secrecy is a breach of both the National Security Agencies Act (1986) and the Official Secrets Act of 1962,” it added.

According to the group, Sowore and his legal team should have been aware of the seriousness of their actions. While he is currently standing trial for alleged cyberbullying, the leaked footage could expose him to additional criminal liability. “Sowore and his lawyer should have known better. By leaking footage that reveals a DSS operative, he could now face prosecution under the National Security Agencies Act (1986) and the Official Secrets Act (1962),” the statement read.

The group further emphasised that ignorance of the law is not a defence. “DSS personnel are bound by a strict oath of secrecy to protect national security, official documents, and classified information — which is why the agency is sometimes referred to as ‘secret police,’” it said.

It added that violations of these laws carry severe penalties. “The punishment for breaching these laws includes up to 20 years’ imprisonment, as well as fines and asset forfeiture,” the statement noted.

The group also urged the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammed Umar, to treat the matter as direct contempt of court and impose appropriate sanctions.

“This disrespectful conduct must not go unaddressed. We respectfully urge the court to impose appropriate sanctions on the defendant, who attempted to turn the chambers of the court into a spectacle,” the group said. “It is important to send a clear message that Nigeria’s judicial system must be respected.”

The video clip, approximately 12 minutes long, has since gone viral on social media. It shows Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, cross-examining a DSS operative, capturing objections raised by counsel to the DSS, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), as well as a ruling by the trial judge.

Attempts to obtain responses from Sowore or his lawyer were unsuccessful, as neither had replied to calls or messages at the time of filing this report.