The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the administration of President Bola Tinubu to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Omoyele Sowore and drop all charges of criminal defamation and cybercrimes against him.
SERAP said Sowore was detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Monday, SERAP said a Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered Sowore’s remand 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 by Sowore seeking the recusal of the judge on grounds of alleged bias.
In the statement signed by SERAP Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation expressed concern over what it described as an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, and what it called “flagrant disregard for the rule of law by Nigerian authorities.”
“Nigerian authorities should safeguard, not stifle, human rights and the rule of law in the country,” SERAP stated.
It added: “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.”
SERAP said journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists faced significant obstacles, including criminal charges and arbitrary detention solely for peacefully exercising their human rights and carrying out legitimate work in the country.
“Nigerian authorities at all levels increasingly use criminal defamation laws and other repressive laws to crack down on human rights and peaceful dissent, bringing frivolous lawsuits against journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists,” it said.
The organisation also raised concerns over threats to journalists’ safety and what it described as the chilling effect of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, SLAPPs, and harassment by security agencies and politicians.
“Impunity for those who threaten, intimidate and harass journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists exacerbates the hostile environment for these defenders of constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights in Nigeria,” SERAP said.
It noted that the right to criticise public officials and government policies was a fundamental component of any democratic society, adding that public officials must 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,” SERAP stated.
The group urged the Tinubu administration to ensure Sowore could carry out his journalistic and human rights activities without fear of harassment, intimidation, arrest, or reprisals.
It also called on the administration to end what it called “growing authoritarian practices,” uphold the rule of law and ensure respect for the human rights of everyone in Nigeria, including the rights to liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and peaceful assembly.
SERAP further urged President Tinubu to publicly direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to respect the rights of all Nigerians, including journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.
It also called for a review of laws such as the Official Secrets Act, Criminal Code Act and Cybercrime Act for potential restrictions on free speech and press, and for their amendment to align with international human rights standards.
“These laws continue to erode citizens’ enjoyment of their human rights and media freedom,” SERAP said.
SERAP Demands Immediate Release Of Sowore, Says Detention Violates Human Rights
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