Sowore’s Bail Revocation: Amnesty International Demands Immediate Reversal

Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to immediately reverse the reported revocation of the bail granted to activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, describing the development as a threat to freedom of expression and other fundamental human rights.

The rights organisation made the appeal in a statement posted on its official X handle on Thursday while reacting to proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Sowore is facing cyberbullying charges linked to social media posts in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a criminal. The court had on Tuesday ordered his arrest over his reported absence from proceedings in the matter.

Reacting to the development, Amnesty International expressed concern that the revocation of Sowore’s bail was connected to the peaceful expression of opinion and criticism of public officials, rights it said are protected under Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights instruments.

The organisation noted that freedom of expression is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as international treaties to which Nigeria is a signatory, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

According to Amnesty International, any restriction on freedom of expression must satisfy strict legal requirements of necessity, proportionality and legitimacy. It warned that such powers should never be used to silence dissenting voices or punish criticism of government officials.

The group stressed that journalists, activists, human rights defenders and political commentators must be able to express opinions and criticise public policies without fear of intimidation, arrest or prosecution.

It further argued that the use of criminal proceedings or restrictive bail conditions to punish legitimate expression could discourage civic participation and weaken public confidence in the justice system.

Amnesty International urged the authorities to discontinue what it described as “bogus charges” against Sowore if they are solely based on the peaceful exercise of his rights.

The organisation also called on the government to uphold due process, respect constitutional guarantees and refrain from using judicial processes to harass critics, journalists and activists.

It maintained that respect for the rule of law requires that no individual should be deprived of liberty for expressing dissenting views.