The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly reversed its earlier position on the ongoing trial of African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, directing its prosecuting counsel to resume the case.

The development comes after the security agency had earlier directed its lawyer, Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, to seek the suspension of the proceedings until after the 2027 presidential election.

According to a reports, the DSS has now changed its position and instructed its counsel to continue with the prosecution.

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The reported reversal comes amid Sowore’s continued criticism of President Bola Tinubu and his political activities ahead of the 2027 general election.

Sowore is being prosecuted over social media posts in which he referred to Tinubu as a “criminal.”

He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case is before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The DSS had previously sought to suspend the proceedings, with the agency’s counsel indicating that the move was intended to allow political candidates facing similar cases to participate in electioneering activities without ongoing trials becoming a hindrance.

Sowore, however, subsequently called for the withdrawal of the charges rather than their suspension.

The latest development comes shortly after Sowore returned to Nigeria from the United States, where he had spent time with his family.

His return has also coincided with renewed political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election, in which he is expected to contest under the AAC.

The Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Echuseh Audu, is facing fresh questions over financial transactions involving accounts associated with her and Katuka’s Kitchen, a registered business name linked to her.

Financial records reportedly obtained in connection with the allegations show several transactions involving accounts associated with Audu and the business, including payments totalling ₦44 million to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja.

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According to the records, ₦12,190,726.80 was transferred on October 28, 2025, from the Taraba State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) Draw Down Account at Zenith Bank to an account belonging to Katuka’s Kitchen.

The same amount was subsequently transferred back to the LPRES Draw Down Account, according to the records.

Other transactions reportedly involving Katuka’s Kitchen and accounts associated with Audu included ₦15 million transferred in May 2024, ₦7 million in August 2024, ₦5.25 million in January 2026 and ₦5,000,020 in February 2026.

The recorded inflows reportedly amounted to ₦49,440,746.80.

The records also showed three payments to Nizamiye Hospital in Abuja — ₦15 million on February 20, 2026, ₦14 million on February 26, and another ₦15 million whose transaction date was not indicated.

The three payments totalled ₦44 million.
Sources close to Audu reportedly said the hospital confirmed that the payments were for a young girl who had died.

Questions have also been raised about the relationship between Audu and Katuka’s Kitchen, including a claim that she had resigned from the business at the Corporate Affairs Commission but remained linked to one of its bank accounts.

The transactions have also raised questions about possible conflict-of-interest issues, particularly concerning the LPRES transaction involving Katuka’s Kitchen.

Previous Relief Material Allegations
The latest financial questions come months after Audu faced separate allegations concerning the alleged diversion of relief materials meant for vulnerable residents of Taraba State.

In March 2026, allegations circulated on social media accusing the agency of diverting more than 10,000 bags of rice and over 1,000 cartons of groundnut oil allegedly meant for internally displaced persons and other vulnerable residents.

Audu denied the allegations and voluntarily presented herself to security and investigative authorities, including the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Special Adviser on Security to the Taraba State Governor and the state Ministry of Justice.

She requested a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.

The earlier allegations had not been publicly substantiated with verifiable evidence at the time of the reports.

A naming ceremony in the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos State reportedly turned tragic after police officers allegedly discharged firearms, leaving an 11-year-old girl and an elderly man with gunshot injuries.

The incident reportedly occurred at about 8pm on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, around Ekunjinmi/Wewe Street, Orile Iganmu.

According to the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria (MOTION), Apapa Coordinating Structure, police officers arrived at the gathering and attempted to stop the event, including the activities of the DJ.

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MOTION said residents resisted the move, stating that there was no apparent justification for stopping the gathering.
The group alleged that firearms were discharged during the ensuing incident, injuring two residents.

The 11-year-old victim, identified as Mistura Murtala, was reportedly shot in the leg and rushed to Olukayode Hospital in Orile Iganmu, where she is receiving emergency medical treatment.

MOTION said it had spoken with members of Mistura’s family, including her mother and brother, and was monitoring her condition.

An elderly man identified as Sodiq Aremu was also reportedly shot in the neck. The group said he remains hospitalised and has been advised to undergo emergency surgery estimated to cost about ₦500,000.

MOTION said it was particularly concerned by eyewitness accounts identifying a police officer popularly known as “Kola” as allegedly being involved in the incident.

According to the group, an eyewitness claimed to have seen the officer discharge a firearm, resulting in the young girl’s injury.

MOTION stressed that the allegation must be properly investigated and corroborated through available evidence and witness testimony.

The group demanded answers over why police officers were called to the gathering, what offence or disturbance they were responding to, why the ceremony was being stopped and which officers were present at the scene.

It also demanded an investigation into who discharged the firearm and why a firearm was allegedly discharged in a populated residential environment.

MOTION further called for the preservation of photographs, videos, medical records, witness accounts, police reports and other relevant evidence, including CCTV footage where available.

The group also raised concerns over an allegation that a traditional community leader, locally referred to as the Baale, told Mistura’s parent that her injury was caused by tear gas rather than a firearm.

MOTION said the claim should be tested against medical and other available evidence, stressing that it was treating the matter as an allegation requiring verification.

The group also said it had received information about an earlier alleged encounter between Aremu and the officer known as “Kola”, including an allegation of a previous arrest, but noted that the claim required verification.

MOTION acknowledged that the Divisional Police Officer of Orile Police Station had been informed of the incident and that medical assistance was reportedly provided to one of the victims.

However, it insisted that the provision of medical assistance did not remove the need for a transparent investigation into the circumstances of the shooting, who discharged the firearm and whether the conduct complied with the law and applicable police rules.

The group called for an immediate, impartial and transparent investigation, the identification of all police officers involved, full medical support for both victims and protection for the victims, their families and witnesses.

It also demanded accountability if the investigation establishes misconduct or unlawful conduct, as well as appropriate redress and support for the victims.

MOTION said it was not calling for mob justice, violence or the prejudging of any criminal trial.

The group maintained that police officers entrusted with firearms to protect lives and maintain public safety must exercise force lawfully, responsibly and with necessary restraint.

It said the circumstances surrounding the shooting must be investigated and that the victims and their families deserved answers.