SERAP to Tinubu: Free Sowore, drop all charges

Crime Diary, Politics

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Omoyele Sowore and drop all charges of criminal defamation and cybercrimes against him, insisting he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his application challenging the revocation of his bail. The court issued the order after dismissing his bid to have the presiding judge recuse himself from the case on grounds of alleged bias.

SERAP expressed concern over what it described as an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and media freedom, as well as the growing disregard for the rule of law by Nigerian authorities. The group said: “Authorities must stop weaponising criminal defamation and cybercrime laws to target journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists, and stop detaining them solely for doing their jobs.”

The core of the case between Sowore and the Department of State Services (DSS) centres on his prosecution for alleged criminal defamation tied to social media posts in which he reportedly described President Tinubu as “a criminal.”

Tensions escalated after a court revoked his bail and ordered his remand in Kuje, but DSS operatives forcefully seized him in court, sparking outrage over disobedience of judicial orders.