ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the Federal Government to immediately release activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore and withdraw all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges against him following his remand by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Mohammed Umar on Monday ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier order revoking his bail.
The judge also dismissed an application seeking his recusal from the case over alleged bias.
Reacting to the development, SERAP on Monday, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said Sowore was being detained solely for peacefully exercising his fundamental rights.
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“We are concerned about the escalating crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law by Nigerian authorities,” the organisation said.
SERAP urged the Tinubu administration to discontinue the prosecution and release Sowore without conditions.
“Nigerian authorities must immediately release Sowore and drop all the bogus charges against him. Authorities must stop weaponizing criminal defamation and cybercrime laws to target and attack journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists and stop detaining and imprisoning them solely for doing their jobs,” the statement read.
The organisation said journalists, bloggers, activists and human rights defenders are increasingly facing criminal charges and arbitrary detention for carrying out legitimate work and exercising their rights.
It further alleged that authorities were increasingly relying on criminal defamation and other restrictive laws to suppress criticism and peaceful dissent.
“We are also concerned about the persistence of threats to journalists’ safety, and the potential chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation and harassment, including by security agencies and politicians,” SERAP said.
The rights group warned that impunity for those who intimidate or harass journalists and activists was worsening the environment for the defence of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms. It added that public officials should be open to scrutiny and criticism in a democratic society.
“The right to criticize public officials and government policies is a fundamental component of any democratic society. Public officials are required to tolerate a greater degree of scrutiny and criticism than private individuals. Legal processes should never be used, or be perceived as being used, to punish, intimidate, or silence dissenting voices or those engaged in legitimate public-interest advocacy,” the organisation stated.
SERAP also called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure that Sowore and others are able to carry out their activities without fear of arrest, intimidation or reprisals.
“The administration must also end the growing authoritarian practices, uphold the rule of law and ensure respect for the human rights of everyone in Nigeria, including the rights to liberty, a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and peaceful assembly,” it added.
The group further urged the government to review the Official Secrets Act, Criminal Code Act and Cybercrime Act, arguing that the laws contain provisions that may restrict free speech and press freedom and should be aligned with international human rights standards.
Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over alleged criminal defamation after he reportedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts on his X and Facebook accounts. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following Monday’s proceedings, some of Sowore’s supporters alleged that DSS operatives attempted to take him into custody within the court premises despite the remand order.