The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Government to immediately and unconditionally release journalist and rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, and withdraw all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges filed against him.
SERAP said Sowore was being detained solely for peacefully exercising his fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.
Naijaonpoint reports that the call followed an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja remanding Sowore at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.
The court gave the order after dismissing an application in which Sowore sought the judge’s recusal from the case over alleged bias.
In a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP expressed concern over what it described as an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom in Nigeria.
The organisation also accused the authorities of showing disregard for the rule of law, saying the government should protect, rather than suppress, human rights.
SERAP urged the government to release Sowore without delay and drop what it described as bogus charges against him.
It alleged that criminal defamation and cybercrime laws were increasingly being used to target journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.
According to SERAP, journalists and rights advocates continue to face criminal charges, arbitrary detention and other obstacles for peacefully exercising their rights and carrying out legitimate public-interest work.
The organisation said authorities at different levels of government had increasingly relied on criminal defamation and other restrictive laws to silence peaceful dissent through frivolous lawsuits against journalists, bloggers, activists and human rights defenders.
SERAP stressed that the right to criticise public officials and government policies is a fundamental element of any democratic society.
It added that public office holders are expected to tolerate a higher level of scrutiny than private citizens.
The group argued that legal processes should not be used to punish, intimidate or silence dissenting voices or people engaged in legitimate advocacy.
SERAP also raised concerns over threats to journalists’ safety, warning of the chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation, harassment by security agencies and politicians, and impunity for those responsible for intimidating media practitioners and rights advocates.
It called on the Federal Government to ensure that Sowore is able to carry out his journalistic and human rights activities without fear of harassment, intimidation, arrest or reprisals.
The organisation urged the government to end what it described as growing authoritarian practices and uphold the rights to liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
SERAP further called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly direct the Department of State Services to fully respect the rights of journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.
The organisation also urged the administration to review the Official Secrets Act, Criminal Code Act and Cybercrime Act, arguing that the laws contain provisions that restrict free speech and press freedom.
According to SERAP, the laws should be amended to align with international human rights standards, warning that their continued application undermines citizens’ enjoyment of fundamental rights and media freedom.
