The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Federal Government to immediately release human rights activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, and discontinue all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges brought against him.
The call followed a ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Mohammed Umar ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of an application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier court order that revoked his bail.
In addition to ordering his remand, the court dismissed an application filed by Sowore requesting that Justice Umar withdraw from the case on grounds of alleged bias.
The judge ruled that there was insufficient basis to warrant his recusal from further proceedings.
Reacting to the court’s decision, SERAP expressed deep concern over what it described as a growing pattern of repression against individuals exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
In a statement signed by the organisation’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP argued that Sowore’s detention was linked to his peaceful exercise of fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and civic engagement.
According to the organisation, the case reflects a broader trend of restrictions on civil liberties in Nigeria, particularly against journalists, activists, bloggers, and human rights defenders who challenge government policies or hold public officials accountable.
SERAP stated that it is increasingly worried about what it described as an escalating clampdown on freedom of expression, freedom of the press, peaceful assembly, and association.
The organisation also accused authorities of undermining the rule of law by allegedly using legal instruments to silence critical voices and discourage public scrutiny of government actions.
The rights group called on the Nigerian authorities to immediately release Sowore and discontinue what it described as unfounded and politically motivated charges.
It maintained that criminal defamation and cybercrime laws should not be used as tools to intimidate or punish individuals for expressing opinions, reporting on matters of public interest, or engaging in advocacy work.
SERAP further argued that the growing use of criminal charges against journalists, bloggers, activists, and civil society actors poses a significant threat to democratic governance and civic participation.
It noted that many individuals engaged in legitimate professional and advocacy activities have increasingly become targets of prosecution, harassment, and arbitrary detention.
The organisation alleged that authorities are relying on restrictive legal provisions, particularly criminal defamation statutes and certain sections of cybercrime legislation, to suppress criticism, discourage dissent, and limit public debate on issues of national importance.
Beyond the legal challenges faced by activists, SERAP also highlighted concerns about the safety and security of journalists across the country.
It warned that continued threats, intimidation, and legal harassment could create a chilling effect on media freedom and discourage investigative reporting and public-interest journalism.
The group further expressed concern about the rise of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which are legal actions often used by powerful individuals or institutions to intimidate critics and discourage public scrutiny.
According to SERAP, such actions, when combined with harassment by security agencies and political actors, undermine democratic accountability and weaken citizens’ ability to freely express their views.
The organisation reiterated its call for Nigerian authorities to uphold constitutional and international human rights obligations by protecting freedom of expression, respecting due process, and ensuring that activists, journalists, and human rights defenders can carry out their work without fear of arrest, intimidation, or imprisonment.
The development has further intensified discussions about the balance between national laws on defamation and cybercrime and the protection of fundamental human rights, particularly freedom of expression and media independence in Nigeria.
