The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International have called on President Bola Tinubu to order the immediate withdrawal of charges filed against activist Omoyele Sowore, as well as the owners of X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, over Sowore’s alleged critical posts about the President.
In a joint letter dated September 20, 2025, and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare and Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi, the groups urged Tinubu to direct the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to drop the case and to stop the Department of State Services (DSS) and other agencies from using Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) to silence dissent.
The groups further urged the President to propose anti-SLAPP legislation to the National Assembly to protect Nigerians from what they described as the “weaponization of the justice system” and to safeguard freedom of expression.
They argued that criminal defamation and SLAPP lawsuits are inconsistent with Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights obligations, warning that such cases have a chilling effect on public debate.
“Politicians and public officials should tolerate a high degree of criticism due to their positions in a democratic society,” the letter read in part, adding that restrictions on human rights must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate.
The rights groups also referenced a pending case before the ECOWAS Court challenging provisions of the Cybercrime (Amendment) Act 2024, which they said could be abused to punish peaceful expression.
The Federal Government had on September 16 filed five charges against Sowore at the Federal High Court, Abuja, including two under the Cybercrime Act and three under the Criminal Code, after he allegedly refused to delete posts critical of Tinubu.
SERAP and Amnesty warned that if the government fails to act within seven days, they would consider legal action before the ECOWAS Court to compel compliance in the public interest.
