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By our reporter
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately instruct the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to drop what it described as “bogus and politically motivated” charges against pro-democracy activist and SaharaReporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore. The organization is also demanding an end to what it terms as ongoing harassment and intimidation of the media outlet, SaharaReporters.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, SERAP described the charges against Sowore as a blatant abuse of the criminal justice system, designed to stifle dissent, restrict press freedom, and punish critical voices in the country.
“The government must stop weaponizing the law to silence journalists and human rights defenders. Sowore has already endured arbitrary detention, restricted movement, and repeated prosecutions simply for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed rights,” the statement read.
SERAP urged President Tinubu to uphold Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights obligations, including the rights to freedom of expression and the press. It warned that continuing legal actions against Sowore and media outlets like SaharaReporters would not only erode Nigeria’s democratic credentials but could also attract international condemnation.
“President Tinubu must break with the repressive tactics of the past and ensure that dissenting voices are protected, not persecuted. The use of spurious charges against Sowore and attempts to intimidate SaharaReporters undermine democratic accountability and the public’s right to know,” SERAP said.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate and outspoken critic of successive Nigerian governments, has faced a series of legal battles since 2019, including detention by the Department of State Services (DSS) and restrictions on his movement. His online news platform, SaharaReporters, has frequently published investigative reports exposing corruption and abuse of power within the Nigerian government and security forces.
Human rights groups have consistently called for the Nigerian government to respect press freedom and end the targeting of journalists and activists through judicial harassment.
SERAP concluded its appeal by calling on the Tinubu administration to use its authority to correct ongoing injustices and restore public confidence in the rule of law.
