By Palang Paul
Amnesty International has called on the Nigerian government to immediately end the prosecution of activist,journalist and Presidential Candidate Omoyele Sowore, describing the charges against him as politically motivated and an attack on freedom of expression.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 21st 2026, Amnesty International said the continued harassment, intimidation and prosecution of Sowore reflected a broader pattern of repression against journalists, human rights defenders, activists and civil society organisations across Nigeria.
The rights group accused the authorities of increasingly using criminal investigations, security agencies and the justice system to intimidate and silence critics of government policies instead of protecting rights guaranteed under Nigeria’s Constitution and international human rights treaties.
“The ongoing harassment, intimidation and unfair prosecution of Omoyele Sowore is another disturbing example of the misuse of Nigeria’s criminal justice system to suppress peaceful dissent,” said Isa Sanusi, Executive Director of Amnesty International Nigeria.
According to Sanusi, no individual should face arrest, prosecution or punishment for peacefully expressing opinions, exposing alleged wrongdoing or criticising those in authority. He added that public officials must be prepared to tolerate greater public scrutiny than private citizens.
Amnesty International also expressed concern over the involvement of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Sowore’s prosecution, arguing that security and intelligence agencies should focus on protecting national security within the law rather than being used to intimidate critics or suppress legitimate public debate.
The organisation said Sowore has faced repeated arrests, detention and multiple criminal proceedings since 2019, describing the actions as a pattern of retaliation against someone peacefully exercising his fundamental rights. It warned that such actions create a chilling effect on journalists, activists and other Nigerians seeking to speak on matters of public interest.
Amnesty International maintained that the prosecution violates Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, as well as Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which Nigeria has ratified.
The organisation stressed that international human rights law permits restrictions on freedom of expression only when they are lawful, pursue a legitimate aim, and are necessary and proportionate, insisting that criminal proceedings targeting peaceful criticism of public officials rarely meet those standards.
It further argued that using the criminal justice system against peaceful critics undermines judicial independence and weakens public confidence in the administration of justice.
Amnesty International urged Nigerian authorities to withdraw what it described as “bogus charges” against Sowore, end all forms of harassment, surveillance and intimidation against him, and allow him to carry out his activities without fear of reprisals.
The organisation also called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly reaffirm his administration’s commitment to human rights and direct all law enforcement and security agencies, including the DSS, to stop what it described as the misuse of criminal investigations and prosecutions against Sowore and other journalists, activists and government critics.
In addition, Amnesty International urged the government to review and amend laws on criminal defamation, cybercrime and other broadly worded offences that it said are frequently used to criminalise peaceful expression, insisting that Nigeria’s legal framework should comply fully with international human rights standards and protect civic space.
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