The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International have jointly called on President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the charges filed against activist Omoyele Sowore and the owners of X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.
The charges, which include cybercrimes and defamation, are related to Sowore’s posts that were critical of the President.
In a letter published on its website on Sunday, the organisations urged the President to “direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, to immediately withdraw the charges.”
They also requested that he instruct the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to cease using legal actions to suppress public criticism and violate human rights.
SERAP and Amnesty International described the lawsuits as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and similar forms of harassment, which they say are inconsistent with Nigeria’s constitution and international human rights obligations.
The letter, co-signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and AI Nigeria’s director, Isa Sanusi, stated: “The weaponisation of the justice system to crack down on peaceful dissent is entirely inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
They argued that such lawsuits have a “chilling effect” on free expression and the circulation of information.
The groups highlighted that a lawsuit challenging the legality of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024 is currently pending before the ECOWAS Court. They warned that using the amended Act to silence dissent while the case is ongoing is a violation of the rule of law.
Also see: Fubara Visits Hometown After Reclaiming Rivers Govt House
The letter also cited other recent instances of what they call SLAPP lawsuits, including a case filed by the DSS against former presidential candidate Professor Pat Utomi and a separate lawsuit against SERAP itself.
According to the groups, these cases demonstrate a pattern of using legal processes to intimidate Nigerians for exercising their fundamental rights.
The organisations noted that the ECOWAS Court of Justice has previously ordered Nigerian authorities to stop using a former version of the Cybercrime Act to prosecute individuals for insulting public officials online. Although the new Act repealed the old section, the groups argue that its provisions are still vague and repressive.
The letter concluded with a demand for action within seven days, stating that if their request is not met, they would consider further legal actions, including an appeal to the ECOWAS Court of Justice.
