Release Sowore Now’ — SERAP Warns Against Growing Authoritarianism Under Tinubu Administration
‘Release Sowore Now’ — SERAP Warns Against Growing Authoritarianism Under Tinubu Administration
Sowore was on Monday remanded in Kuje Prison after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his detention pending the hearing of an application challenging the revocation of his bail.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, following a Federal High Court order remanding him at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
The rights organisation also called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to withdraw the bogus criminal defamation and cybercrime charges filed against Sowore, insisting that he is being targeted solely for peacefully exercising his constitutionally guaranteed rights.
Sowore was on Monday remanded in Kuje Prison after a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his detention pending the hearing of an application challenging the revocation of his bail. The court issued the order after dismissing an application filed by Sowore seeking the trial judge’s recusal over alleged bias.
Reacting to the development, SERAP, in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, expressed concerns over what it described as a worsening pattern of repression against journalists, activists, bloggers and other dissenting voices in Nigeria.
“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 argued that rather than protecting fundamental freedoms, authorities are increasingly deploying criminal defamation and cybercrime laws as tools to intimidate, harass and silence critics of government policies and public officials.
“Nigerian authorities must immediately release Sowore and drop all the bogus charges against him,” the statement read.
“Authorities must stop weaponising 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 organisation warned that the growing use of criminal prosecutions against critics poses a serious threat to democratic governance and civic space in Nigeria.
According to SERAP, journalists, bloggers and civil society actors now face increasing risks of arbitrary arrests, detention and prosecution merely for expressing opinions, exposing wrongdoing or holding public officials accountable.
The group further lamented what it called the persistence of threats to journalists’ safety and the increasing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which it said are often deployed by powerful individuals and institutions to discourage public-interest reporting and activism.
“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 stated.
The organisation stressed that criticism of government officials and policies remains a cornerstone of democracy and should not attract criminal sanctions.
“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,” it said.
SERAP maintained that legal processes should never be used as instruments of punishment or intimidation against citizens exercising their right to free expression.
The group urged President Tinubu to publicly direct security agencies, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), to respect the rights of journalists, activists and other citizens.
It also called for a comprehensive review of laws such as the Cybercrime Act, Criminal Code Act and Official Secrets Act, arguing that several provisions in the laws continue to undermine press freedom and freedom of expression.
“The administration should review laws like the Official Secrets Act, Criminal Code Act and Cybercrime Act for potential restrictions on free speech and press, and amend them in line with international human rights standards,” SERAP said.
The organisation warned that unless urgent steps are taken to protect civic freedoms, Nigeria risks deepening concerns about democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space under the current administration.
Sowore has remained one of the most vocal critics of successive Nigerian governments, frequently leading campaigns against corruption, abuse of power and violations of citizens’ rights.
