Sowore’s latest legal troubles have sparked reactions from civil society organisations, with SERAP strongly condemning the development
KaNo —
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Federal Government to immediately release activist and journalist Omoyele Sowore and withdraw all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges against him, following his remand by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Mohammed Umar on Monday ordered Sowore’s remand at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of his application seeking a stay of execution of an earlier order revoking his bail.
. In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation described the activist’s detention as unjustified and a violation of his fundamental rights.
According to SERAP, Sowore is being detained solely for peacefully exercising his constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and opinion.
“We are concerned about the escalating crackdown on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association and media freedom, and the flagrant disregard for the rule of law by Nigerian authorities,” the organisation stated.
The group urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to immediately discontinue the prosecution and release Sowore unconditionally, insisting that the charges against him lack merit and are aimed at silencing dissent.
“Nigerian authorities must immediately release Sowore and drop all the bogus charges against him. Authorities must stop weaponising criminal defamation and cybercrime laws to target and attack journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders and activists, and stop detaining and imprisoning them solely for doing their jobs,” the statement read.
The organisation alleged that authorities are relying more frequently on restrictive laws, including criminal defamation statutes, to suppress criticism and peaceful dissent.
It also expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of harassment and intimidation of media professionals and activists, warning that such actions could have a chilling effect on free speech and democratic participation.
“We are also concerned about the persistence of threats to journalists’ safety, and the potential chilling effect of strategic lawsuits against public participation and harassment, including by security agencies and politicians,” SERAP added.
The rights group warned that impunity for individuals and institutions that intimidate or harass journalists and activists is worsening the environment for the defence of constitutionally guaranteed freedoms in Nigeria.
It stressed that public officials must be open to scrutiny and criticism, noting that accountability is a cornerstone of democratic governance.
“The right to criticise public officials and government policies is a fundamental component of any democratic society. Public officials are required to tolerate a greater degree of scrutiny and criticism than private individuals. Legal processes should never be used, or be perceived as being used, to punish, intimidate, or silence dissenting voices or those engaged in legitimate public-interest advocacy,” SERAP stated.
The organisation also called on President Tinubu to ensure that Sowore and other activists are able to carry out their activities without fear of arrest, intimidation or reprisals. It emphasised the need for the government to uphold democratic values and respect the rule of law.
“The administration must also end the growing authoritarian practices, uphold the rule of law and ensure respect for the human rights of everyone in Nigeria, including the rights to liberty, a fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and peaceful assembly,” it said.
In addition, SERAP urged the Federal Government to review existing legislation, including the Official Secrets Act, the Criminal Code Act and the Cybercrime Act, arguing that certain provisions in these laws may unduly restrict free speech and press freedom. The organisation called for reforms to align Nigeria’s legal framework with international human rights standards.
Sowore is currently being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged criminal defamation after reportedly referring to President Tinubu as “a criminal” in posts on his social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following Monday’s court proceedings, some of Sowore’s supporters alleged that operatives of the DSS attempted to take him into custody within the court premises despite the remand order, further raising concerns about due process and respect for judicial procedures.
Meanwhile, SERAP has also intensified its advocacy for accountability in public spending by issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the leadership of the National Assembly over a separate matter involving alleged unlawful expenditure by federal lawmakers.
In a letter dated June 20, 2026, and signed by Oluwadare, the organisation called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas to recover funds linked to a N110 billion vehicle procurement and support allowance scheme for lawmakers.
“Flowing from Justice Bogoro’s judgment, there must be consequences and full restitution for the lawmakers’ failure to comply with their constitutional and statutory obligations,” the organisation said.
The group argued that allowing lawmakers to retain benefits from an expenditure deemed unlawful would undermine principles of transparency, accountability and good governance.
“Allowing lawmakers to retain benefits derived from unlawful and unconstitutional expenditure would be entirely inconsistent with the constitutional duty to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power,” it stated.
SERAP further maintained that no public official should be allowed to retain benefits obtained through conduct that has been judicially declared unlawful, stressing that restitution is necessary to restore public confidence in governance.
The demand follows a judgment delivered by Justice Yellim Bogoro in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1606/2023, which held that the spending of N40 billion on 465 official vehicles for lawmakers and N70 billion in support allowances for newly elected legislators violated procurement laws, constitutional provisions and public trust obligations.
Although the court did not explicitly order a refund, SERAP argued that the findings provide a sufficient legal basis for restitution when considered alongside Nigeria’s Constitution, procurement laws and international obligations.
