The Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Bola Tinubu to order the discontinuation of criminal prosecution of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore.
The group made the call in a statement published on Facebook on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, the Inspector-General of Police charged Sowore with forgery, defamation, incitement, among others at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
However, the case, which was slated for arraignment before Justice Emeka Nwite, could not proceed due to the absence of Sowore’s co-defendants, Sahara Reporters, in court.
Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter until September 15 for commencement of trial.
In its statement, SERAP called on the president to order the IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, to discontinue the court.
The statement reads, “President Tinubu should direct the Inspector General of Police to immediately drop the bogus charges against journalist Omoyele Sowore and end the arbitrary prosecution and abusive investigation of the journalist and Sahara Reporters.
“Sowore has already suffered a terrible miscarriage of justice solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.
“Nigerian authorities must not subject him to another bogus prosecution and unfair trial.
“Authorities must end the weaponisation of the criminal justice to intimidate and harass Sowore.”
SERAP described Sowore’s prosecution as “unfair” and the charges against him as “baseless”, noting that both appeared to be retaliation for the peaceful exercise of his human rights including to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
SERAP added, “The intimidation and harassment of journalists and independent press must END.
“Nigerian authorities must allow Sowore to freely exercise his fundamental rights as guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
The group maintained that peaceful dissent and opinions are the cornerstone of a democratic society that is based on the rule of law, and stifling them is a direct violation of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.
“Nigerian authorities should end the restrictions on civic space and live up to their constitutional and international obligations to respect and uphold the human rights of everyone in the country including journalists, human rights defenders and activists,” it stressed.
The sun
