The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Government to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Omoyele Sowore and withdraw all charges of criminal defamation and cybercrimes against him, insisting that he is being detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his fundamental human rights.

Federal High Court in Abuja 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 an application in which Sowore sought the judge’s recusal from the case over alleged bias.

In a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP expressed concern over what it described as an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, as well as what it called a flagrant disregard for the rule of law by Nigerian authorities.

The organisation maintained that the authorities should protect, rather than suppress, human rights and the rule of law.

SERAP urged the government to immediately release Sowore and drop all the bogus charges against him, alleging that criminal defamation and cybercrime laws are increasingly being used to target journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.

According to the group, those engaged in journalism and human rights advocacy continue to face criminal charges, arbitrary detention and other obstacles solely for peacefully exercising their rights and carrying out their legitimate work.

It further alleged that authorities at different levels of government have increasingly relied on criminal defamation and other restrictive laws to silence peaceful dissent through what it described as frivolous lawsuits against journalists, bloggers, activists and human rights defenders.

The organisation also raised concerns over threats to journalists’ safety and warned of the chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), harassment by security agencies and politicians, and impunity for those responsible for intimidating media practitioners and rights advocates.

SERAP stressed that the right to criticise public officials and government policies is a fundamental element of any democratic society, noting that public office holders are expected to tolerate a higher level of scrutiny than private citizens.

It argued that legal processes should not be used to punish, intimidate or silence dissenting voices or individuals engaged in legitimate public-interest advocacy.

The body called on the Federal Government to ensure that Sowore is able to carry out his journalistic and human rights activities without fear of harassment, intimidation, arrest or reprisals.

It also urged the government to end what it described as growing authoritarian practices, uphold the rule of law and respect the rights to liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly.

SERAP further called on President Tinubu to publicly direct the Department of State Services (DSS) to fully respect the rights of journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists.

The organisation also urged the administration to review the Official Secrets Act, Criminal Code Act and Cybercrime Act, arguing that the laws contain provisions that restrict free speech and press freedom and should be amended to align with international human rights standards.

According to SERAP, the continued application of the laws undermines citizens’ enjoyment of their fundamental rights and media freedom.