Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to reverse the reported revocation of the bail granted to activist and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, describing the development as a threat to the rights to liberty, fair trial and freedom of expression.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the human rights organisation expressed concern over a Federal High Court ruling in Abuja ordering Sowore’s arrest following his alleged absence from court proceedings in a cyberbullying case linked to social media posts in which he described President Bola Tinubu as “a criminal.”
The court reportedly issued a bench warrant for Sowore’s arrest after an oral application by the prosecution.
Amnesty International argued that the case is connected to the peaceful expression of Sowore’s views and criticism of public officials, activities it said are protected under Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
According to the organisation, revoking Sowore’s bail under such circumstances infringes on his rights to freedom of expression, liberty and a fair trial. It stressed that any restrictions on these rights must be lawful, necessary and proportionate, and should never be used to suppress dissent or silence criticism.
The group noted that freedom of expression remains a fundamental pillar of a democratic society governed by the rule of law, adding that journalists, activists, human rights defenders and political commentators must be able to express opinions and scrutinise government policies without fear of arrest, detention or other forms of retaliation.
Amnesty further warned that the use of criminal proceedings, restrictive bail conditions or judicial processes to discourage legitimate expression could have a chilling effect on civic participation, weaken democratic space and erode public confidence in the justice system.
The organisation called on authorities to withdraw what it described as “bogus charges” against Sowore arising solely from the peaceful exercise of his fundamental rights and to ensure full compliance with international fair trial standards and due process guarantees.
It also urged the government to uphold the right to freedom of expression, including criticism of public officials and government policies, and to refrain from using criminal laws or judicial mechanisms to intimidate, harass or silence critics.
Amnesty International maintained that Nigerian authorities must demonstrate their commitment to the rule of law and human rights by ensuring that no individual is deprived of liberty or subjected to judicial abuse for peacefully exercising constitutionally guaranteed freedoms.
