The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International have called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to withdraw the charges filed against activist Omoyele Sowore, as well as against the owners of X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. The charges reportedly stem from Sowore’s alleged critical and “anti-Tinubu” posts on these platforms.
The two organisations also urged the President to direct the Department of State Services (DSS) and other law enforcement bodies to desist from misusing the judicial system to suppress public criticism through Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and other forms of harassment.
Furthermore, SERAP and Amnesty asked the Attorney General to draft and present to the National Assembly a bill on anti-SLAPP legislation. Such a law, they argued, would protect Nigerians from the weaponisation of the justice system and strengthen the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
In a joint letter signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Amnesty International Nigeria’s Director, Isa Sanusi, the groups maintained that the weaponisation of the legal process to stifle peaceful dissent runs contrary to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Nigeria’s international human rights obligations.
They also noted that a case is currently pending before the ECOWAS Court, challenging the legality of certain provisions in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024, particularly in relation to their compatibility with freedom of expression and access to information.
According to the groups, the continued use of SLAPPs and criminal defamation suits by security agencies to silence dissent constitutes a grave threat to democracy and the rule of law, as it undermines public participation in governance.
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