Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International have urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to immediately withdraw the charges against activist Omoyele Sowore, X [formerly Twitter] and Facebook owners over Mr Sowore’s alleged critical and ‘anti-Tinubu’ posts on the social media platforms.”
SERAP and Amnesty International also urged President Tinubu, amongst others, to “direct the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security and law enforcement agencies to immediately stop misusing the judicial processes to silence public criticism and violate Nigerians’ rights through the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) or similar forms of harassment.”
These demands are contained in a letter signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare and AI Nigeria director Isa Sanusi.
The groups said the lawsuits slammed on Sowore are neither necessary nor proportionate under the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.
They said such lawsuits generate a chilling effect that inhibits the enjoyment of human rights and circulation of ideas and information.
