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By Victor Osula, Abuja
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged “the government of President Bola Tinubu to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Omoyele Sowore and drop all defamation and cybercrime charges against him, as he is being detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.”
The human rights group made the application on Monday following Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Center by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail.
Justice Mohammed Umar had ordered Sowore’s detention after rejecting an application in which the African Action Congress (AAC) chief sought the judge’s recusal from the case for alleged bias. The court subsequently adjourned the proceedings to June 24, for hearing of his motion seeking to quash the bail revocation order and court warrant earlier issued against him.
The Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP, has expressed concern over what he described as growing repression of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom in Nigeria.
“We are concerned by the growing repression of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, and by the Nigerian authorities’ flagrant disregard for the rule of law,” the organization said.
According to SERAP, Nigerian authorities should protect, rather than suppress, human rights and democratic freedoms.
“The Nigerian authorities must immediately release Sowore and drop all false charges against him. The authorities must stop using criminal defamation and cybercrime laws as a weapon to target and attack journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists, and stop detaining and imprisoning them solely for doing their work,” the statement read.
SERAP noted that journalists, bloggers, activists and human rights defenders increasingly face significant obstacles, including criminal charges and arbitrary detention, to peacefully exercise their rights and carry out legitimate public interest work.
“We are concerned that journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists face significant obstacles, and even criminal charges and arbitrary detention just for peacefully exercising their human rights and carrying out their legitimate work in the country,” it reads.
The group also said authorities at different levels of government have increasingly used criminal defamation laws and other restrictive laws to suppress criticism and peaceful dissent.
“Nigerian authorities at all levels increasingly use criminal defamation laws and other repressive laws to repress human rights and peaceful dissent, bringing frivolous lawsuits against journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists,” he added.
SERAP also expressed concern about threats to the safety of journalists and the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), warning that such actions could discourage civic engagement and public accountability.
“We are also concerned about the persistence of threats to the safety of journalists and the potential chilling effect of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) and harassment, including by security agencies and politicians,” the organization added.
According to SERAP, impunity for those who intimidate, harass or threaten journalists and activists has contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for defenders of constitutionally guaranteed rights.
The organization stressed that criticism of public officials and government policies is a fundamental feature of democratic governance and should not lead to criminal sanctions.
“The right to criticize public officials and government policies is a fundamental component of any democratic society. Public officials are expected to tolerate a greater degree of scrutiny and criticism than private individuals. Legal processes should never be used, or be perceived to be used, to punish, intimidate, or silence dissenting voices or those engaged in self-defense of the public interest,” it states.
SERAP urged the Tinubu administration to ensure that Sowore is able to carry out his journalism and human rights activities without fear of intimidation, arrest or retaliation.
“The Tinubu administration must ensure that Sowore is able to carry out his journalistic and human rights activities and exercise his right to freedom of expression without fear of harassment, intimidation, arrest or retaliation,” the statement added.
The group also called on the federal government to end what it calls growing authoritarian practices, uphold the rule of law, and protect the rights to liberty, due process, freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly.
He also urged President Tinubu to publicly instruct the Department of State Services (DSS) to respect and uphold the rights of journalists, bloggers, activists and human rights defenders.
SERAP renewed its call for the revision of laws such as the Official Secrets Law, the Criminal Code Law and the Cybercrime Law, arguing that provisions contained in the legislation continue to undermine media freedom and citizens’ enjoyment of constitutional rights.
“The administration should review laws such as the Official Secrets Act, the Criminal Code Act and the Cybercrime Act for restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, and amend them in line with international human rights standards. These laws continue to erode citizens’ enjoyment of their human rights and media freedom,” the organization said.
Sowore is currently being prosecuted by the Department of State Services for allegedly making false claims against President Tinubu by referring to him as “a criminal” in posts made on his X and Facebook accounts. The matter is due back in court on June 24.
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