Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release activist and publisher Omoyele Sowore from detention, describing his continued incarceration as arbitrary and linked to the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression.
The rights group’s demand followed a ruling by the Federal High Court, Abuja which reportedly ordered that Sowore be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of a motion challenging the revocation of his bail and a bench warrant issued against him.
In a statement, Amnesty International said Sowore is facing what it described as “bogus cyberbullying charges” stemming from social media posts in which he allegedly referred to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as “a criminal.”
The organisation expressed concern over what it called a widening pattern of restrictions on civic space in Nigeria, including the intimidation and harassment of journalists, activists, and human rights defenders for exercising their constitutional rights.
It warned that Sowore’s continued detention risks undermining freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful participation in public discourse, while also creating a chilling effect on civil society and the media.
Amnesty International argued that criticism of public officials is protected under Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as international human rights obligations, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The group urged Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Sowore, ensure compliance with fair trial standards, and avoid the misuse of criminal proceedings to silence dissenting voices.
It further stressed that freedom of expression remains a cornerstone of democratic governance, noting that public officials must tolerate scrutiny and criticism without resorting to arrest, detention, or punitive legal measures.
According to the organisation, the criminalisation of peaceful expression undermines the rule of law, weakens civic space, and discourages public participation in governance.
Amnesty International maintained that Nigerian authorities must demonstrate commitment to human rights by ensuring that no individual is deprived of liberty for peacefully expressing critical views or engaging in legitimate public debate.
