THE Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International Nigeria have urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the withdrawal of criminal charges against activist Omoyele Sowore, as well as against social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, over posts deemed critical of the president.
They made the call in a joint letter dated September 20, 2025, signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Amnesty International Nigeria’s director, Isa Sanusi.
“Direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to immediately withdraw the charges against activist Omoyele Sowore, X [formerly Twitter] and Facebook owners over Mr Sowore’s alleged critical and ‘anti-Tinubu’ posts on the social media platforms.
“The weaponisation of the justice system to crack down on peaceful dissent is entirely inconsistent with the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended) and the country’s international human rights obligations,” the letter read in part.
The organisations called on Tinubu to prevent the State Security Services (SSS) and other security agencies from “misusing judicial processes to silence dissent.”
They also urged the president to instruct the Attorney General of the Federation to present an anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) bill to the National Assembly, aimed at curbing the use of lawsuits to muzzle public criticism.
“Direct Mr Fagbemi to urgently prepare an anti-SLAPP legislation for the National Assembly, to protect Nigerians from the weaponization of the justice system by the DSS and other security and law enforcement agencies and to safeguard the right to freedom of expression,” the letter stated.
They warned that “SLAPP and criminal defamation lawsuits are neither necessary nor proportionate” and have a chilling effect that stifles free expression.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and full enjoyment of this right is central to achieving individual freedom and to developing democracy. It is not only the cornerstone of democracy, but indispensable to a thriving civil society.”
“Your government has the legal obligations to prevent harassment through legal processes against Nigerians peacefully exercising their human rights, and to protect the legitimacy, independence and impartiality of the hearing of the lawsuit on the Cybercrimes Act pending before the ECOWAS Court.
“Any restrictions on human rights including the right to freedom of expression must meet the conditions of legality, serve as one of the legitimate purposes expressly provided for in the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties, and must be necessary, and proportionate to that purpose,” it added.
The ICIR reported on September 16, that the Federal Government filed a five-count criminal charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja against Sowore, accusing him of using social media to defame Tinubu and spread information capable of disturbing public order.
The Nigerian government stated that the posts described the president as a ‘criminal’ and alleged he falsely claimed there was no more corruption in Nigeria.
The government further said the comments were intended to cause a breakdown of law and order and to tarnish the president’s reputation.
Nanji is an investigative journalist with the ICIR. She has years of experience in reporting and broadcasting human angle stories, gender inequalities, minority stories, and human rights issues. She has documented sexual war crimes in armed conflict, sex for grades in Nigerian Universities, harmful traditional practices and human trafficking.