The local branch of the global grassroots human rights movement, Amnesty International Nigeria, has demanded the immediate release of activist, Omoyele Sowore from detention.

Sowore faces cyberbullying charges from the Department of Security Services (DSS) and his bail was revoked on June 16 for non-appearance in court, leading to the latest remand pending a stay motion hearing set for June 24.

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of the online publisher and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

Justice Mohammed Umar, in a short ruling, ordered Sowore to be kept in the correctional centre pending the hearing and determination of his motion for stay of the order for revocation of his bail and bench warrant.

Justice Umar also dismissed Sowore’s earlier application seeking the judge’s recusal from the case on the ground of alleged bias.

Reacting via a statement on its official X account, Amnesty argued that his remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre constitutes arbitrary detention solely for social media posts criticizing President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal.”

“Nigerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Sahara Reporters publisher and activist Omoyele Sowore from arbitrary detention as he is detained solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights, Amnesty International said today,” the statement read.

The statement highlighted concerns over Nigeria’s use of criminal law against critics, citing protections under the 1999 Constitution, ICCPR, and African Charter, amid a pattern of actions affecting journalists and activists.

“Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the arbitrary detention of Sowore and the broader pattern of crackdown on civic space, and intimidation and harassment of activists, human rights defenders, and journalists solely for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,” it added.

Sowore’s continued detention, Amnesty lamented, risks undermining the rights to freedom of expression, association, and civic participation, and will have a chilling effect on civil society organisations, journalists, and human rights defenders working to promote transparency and accountability in the country.

“Sowore’s detention is linked to the peaceful expression of his views, and criticism of public officials, which are clearly protected under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party,” Amnesty stated.

“Nigerian authorities must immediately release Sowore and drop all the baseless charges against him. They must fully comply with international fair trial standards and respect due process guarantees.”

According to Amnesty, freedom of expression is a cornerstone of any rule of law-based society, adding that public figures, journalists, human rights defenders, activists, and political commentators must be able to express opinions, criticize government policies, and participate in public debate without fear of arrest, detention or other forms of retaliation.

It lamented that the misuse of the criminal justice system to punish or deter legitimate expression creates a chilling effect that extends far beyond the individual concerned.

Such actions, Amnesty said, discourage others from speaking out, weaken civic space and undermine public confidence in the rule of law.

The human rights group urged the Nigerian authorities to uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression, including criticism of public officials and government policies, and refrain from using criminal law, judicial processes or restrictive measures to intimidate, harass or silence critics, journalists, activists, and human rights defenders.

“Authorities must demonstrate their commitment to the rule of law and human rights by ensuring that no one is deprived of their liberty or subjected to abuse of the judicial system simply for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression,” Amnesty said. (The Guardian)

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