The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government to immediately release activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore and drop all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges brought against him, following his remand by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
On Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre while ruling on an application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier order that revoked his bail.
The court also rejected a separate request asking the judge to step aside from the case over allegations of bias.
Reacting to the ruling, SERAP, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said Sowore’s continued detention amounted to punishment for the peaceful exercise of his fundamental rights.
“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.
The group called on the Tinubu administration to discontinue the prosecution and ensure Sowore’s immediate and unconditional release.
“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.
SERAP warned that journalists, bloggers, activists and human rights defenders were increasingly being subjected to criminal charges and arbitrary detention for carrying out legitimate public-interest work.
It further alleged a growing reliance on criminal defamation and other restrictive laws to silence dissent and suppress criticism.
“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 organisation cautioned that impunity for harassment and intimidation of journalists and activists was deepening threats to constitutional freedoms.
READ ALSO: SERAP Wins As Court Voids National Assembly’s N110bn Spending
It stressed that public officials must be open to scrutiny 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 urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that Sowore and other citizens 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 called for a review of the Official Secrets Act, Criminal Code Act and Cybercrime Act, arguing that they contain provisions that could restrict free speech and press freedom and should be aligned with international human rights standards.
Sowore is currently being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over alleged criminal defamation after he reportedly described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal” on his X and Facebook accounts. He has pleaded not guilty.
Following the court proceedings on Monday, some supporters of Sowore alleged that DSS operatives attempted to take him into custody within the court premises despite the remand order.