SERAP urges Tinubu government to release Sowore and drop all charges.

Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Omoyele Sowore and dismiss all criminal defamation and cybercrime charges, arguing that his detention is solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered that Sowore be remanded to the Kuje Correctional Centre while his application to challenge the revocation of his bail is heard. The order followed the dismissal of Sowore’s request that the judge recuse himself on grounds of alleged bias.

In a statement signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation expressed concern about the escalating crackdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and media freedom, and the apparent disregard for the rule of law by Nigerian authorities.

According to SERAP, “Nigerian authorities should safeguard, not stifle, human rights and the rule of law in the country.”

“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.”

“Nigerian authorities must immediately release Sowore and drop all the bogus charges against him. Authorities must stop weaponizing 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.”

“We are concerned that journalists, bloggers, human rights