Amnesty International has urged Nigerian officials to release activist and Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore without conditions, asserting that his imprisonment stems from the peaceful practice of his fundamental rights. A Federal High Court in Abuja currently mandates his detention at the Kuje Correctional Centre while he contests a bail revocation and a bench warrant.
The group noted via social media that Sowore faces cyberbullying allegations tied to posts labeling President Bola Tinubu a criminal. Expressing alarm over what it identifies as a broader trend of suppressing civic activity, Amnesty International warned that this detention intimidates journalists and activists, ultimately stifling transparency and accountability efforts in Nigeria.
The organization insists that Sowore’s actions are protected under both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights treaties. They have called for the withdrawal of what they view as groundless charges, emphasizing that a democratic society requires the freedom to critique public officials without the threat of legal retaliation or arrest. By utilizing the judicial system to silence dissenting voices, the group argues, the government threatens the rule of law and discourages public engagement.