Amnesty International, SERAP Accuse Tinubu Govt Of Silencing Dissent — Demand End To Cybercrime, Defamation Charges Against Sowore, X, Facebook

Date: September 21, 2025
Author: Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi

In a bold joint intervention, Amnesty International and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of weaponising Nigeria’s justice system to suppress free speech and intimidate critics.

In a strongly worded letter dated September 20, 2025, co-signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, and Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, the rights groups urged President Tinubu to immediately order the withdrawal of all pending cybercrime and criminal defamation charges filed against activist Omoyele Sowore and social media giants X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

The charges, filed on September 16, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, accuse Sowore of using his posts on social media to defame President Tinubu, cyberstalk government officials, and incite public disturbance. The Department of State Services (DSS) initiated the action through the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Ministry of Justice after Sowore allegedly refused to delete the posts critical of the president.

Rights Groups Warn Against SLAPP Abuse

Amnesty International and SERAP warned that the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) by security agencies is a threat to democracy. They called on Tinubu to direct the DSS and other law enforcement bodies to halt the misuse of such lawsuits to harass critics, journalists, and opposition figures.

They further urged the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to prepare and present an anti-SLAPP bill to the National Assembly. According to them, this will protect Nigerians’ rights to free expression and shield public interest advocates from frivolous and retaliatory lawsuits.

ECOWAS Case Looms

The groups reminded the government that a lawsuit challenging sections of the Cybercrime (Amendment) Act 2024 is already before the ECOWAS Court, and warned that using these disputed provisions to criminalise dissent while the case is pending violates Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations.

Quoting Tinubu’s own Democracy Day speech — where he famously stated that “no one should bear the brunt of injustice for merely writing a bad report” — Amnesty and SERAP reminded the president of his duty to protect the very rights he once championed.

Pattern of Intimidation

The joint statement also highlighted a disturbing trend, citing previous DSS actions against public figures including Professor Pat Utomi (May 2025) and even SERAP itself (October 2024). In those instances, lawsuits alleged subversion, illegal usurpation of power, and office invasion — charges the rights groups say were aimed at silencing dissent rather than pursuing genuine justice.

Seven-Day Ultimatum

The letter gave the government seven days from receipt or publication to comply with their demands or face legal action at the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

“If we have not heard from you by then, we would consider all appropriate legal actions including before the ECOWAS Court of Justice to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest,” the groups warned.

Observers say the outcome of this standoff will be a critical test of President Tinubu’s commitment to the rule of law, press freedom, and Nigeria’s democratic ideals.

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Author: Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
Publisher, Global Egberi Media International

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Tags: #AmnestyInternational #SERAP #Sowore #Tinubu #HumanRights #CybercrimeAct #FreeSpeech #NigeriaPolitics