SERAP urges Federal Government to release Omoyele Sowore and drop charges
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
The Socio-Economic Rights and Anti-Corruption Project SERAP has called on the Federal Government to release activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore and withdraw all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges against him. This appeal follows a Federal High Court in Abuja ordering Sowore's remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre. Justice Mohammed Umar issued the remand order pending the determination of Sowore's application to stay an earlier order revoking his bail, and dismissed an application for the judge's recusal. SERAP, in a statement by its Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, stated that Sowore is being detained for peacefully exercising his fundamental rights. The organization expressed concern about what it described as an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and media freedom, and a disregard for the rule of law by Nigerian authorities. SERAP urged the Tinubu administration to discontinue the prosecution and release Sowore unconditionally, emphasizing that authorities should stop using criminal defamation and cybercrime laws to target journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, and activists. The group also highlighted that public officials should be open to scrutiny and criticism in a democratic society and that legal processes should not be used to punish or silence dissenting voices. Sowore is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services for alleged criminal defamation after reportedly describing President Bola Ti
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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