SERAP Demands Immediate Release of Sowore, Calls Charges “Unlawful Attack on Free Speech”

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Government to immediately release activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore and drop all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges against him following his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier ordered Sowore’s remand pending the hearing of an application challenging the revocation of his bail. The court also dismissed a separate application seeking the judge’s recusal over alleged bias.

Reacting to the development, SERAP described the continued detention of Sowore as a violation of fundamental human rights, insisting that he is being punished solely for the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.

In a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to act decisively to uphold constitutional and international human rights obligations.

“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,” SERAP stated.

The group said Nigerian authorities must immediately release Sowore and discontinue what it described as “bogus charges,” warning against what it called the weaponisation of criminal defamation and cybercrime laws.

According to SERAP, journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists are increasingly being subjected to criminal charges and arbitrary detention for carrying out legitimate public-interest work.

It further alleged that authorities are increasingly relying on restrictive legal frameworks to suppress dissent and silence critical voices in the country.

“Nigerian 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 statement read.

SERAP also raised concerns about what it described as growing threats to journalists safety and the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) to intimidate critics of government actions.

The organisation stressed that the right to criticise public officials and government policies is a fundamental pillar of democracy, noting that public office holders are expected to tolerate a higher degree of scrutiny.

“The Tinubu administration must ensure that Sowore is able to carry out his journalistic and human rights activities without fear of harassment, intimidation, arrest or reprisals,” SERAP said.

It further called on the government to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for civil liberties, including freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly and the right to a fair trial.

SERAP also urged a review of existing laws, including the Cybercrime Act, Criminal Code Act and Official Secrets Act, arguing that they are increasingly being used to stifle free speech.

The organisation warned that continued reliance on such laws risks eroding media freedom and weakening democratic accountability in Nigeria.

As of press time, there has been no official response from the Federal Government regarding SERAP’s latest demands.