SERAP, NGE demand immediate release of Farotimi, urge end to attacks on journalists
Dele Farotimi
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) have called on President Bola Tinubu’s government to release activist Dele Farotimi immediately and unconditionally.
They also urged the government to drop all charges against him related to criminal defamation and cybercrimes.
The groups asserted that Farotimi’s detention is solely due to his peaceful exercise of his human rights.
The organisations also demanded the immediate release of all journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, and activists currently detained for peacefully exercising their rights and performing their legitimate work.
The statement followed a press conference titled ‘Nigeria: Backsliding on Human Rights and Media Freedom’, held at Shelton Hotels in Ikeja, Lagos, to mark International Human Rights Day.
SERAP and NGE co-hosted the event, which underscored concerns over the escalating clampdown on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, association, and media freedom, alongside the government’s increasing disregard for the rule of law.
The groups noted the growing culture of impunity for those who threaten, intimidate, and harass journalists and activists, further aggravating the hostile environment for those defending constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights in Nigeria.
“We urge Nigerian authorities to safeguard, not suppress, human rights and the rule of law,” the joint statement read.
“We call on the government to stop weaponising criminal defamation and cybercrime laws to target journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, and activists, and to end their detention for simply doing their jobs.”
The groups also called on President Tinubu and his government to instruct Nigeria’s governors, the Nigerian Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS) to uphold and respect the rights of all citizens, including journalists and human rights defenders.
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Concerns were raised about the ongoing threats to the safety of journalists, including the use of state surveillance, cyberbullying, and legal actions, such as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), which serve to stifle critical reporting.
The groups also decried the continued use of commercial spyware to target journalists and activists, citing the failure of surveillance companies to meet international human rights standards.
Further, the groups called on the government to conduct impartial and thorough investigations into all human rights violations against media workers and human rights defenders, ensuring justice for victims.
They urged the review and amendment of restrictive laws like the Official Secrets Act, Cybercrime Act, and Criminal Code, urging alignment with international human rights standards.
SERAP and NGE also called for the strengthening of independent regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to ensure fair regulation of the media and to prevent the arbitrary shutdown of media outlets.
Additionally, they urged the National Assembly to review and revise defamation laws and the Cybercrime Act in line with Nigeria’s human rights commitments.
The press conference also highlighted the increasingly frequent attacks on journalists, including incidents of harassment, wrongful arrests, and physical assaults. According to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) Press Attack Tracker, there were 110 documented attacks on the press in 2024, surpassing the total number of attacks in 2023.
Notable cases included arrests of journalists such as Nurudeen Akewushola and Dayo Aiyetan over defamation allegations, as well as physical assaults on media workers by security forces at protests.
These events serve as stark examples of the ongoing threats to press freedom in the country.
The event, which attracted senior media and civil society representatives, including Richard Akinnola, Eze Anaba (NGE President), Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, and other prominent figures, emphasized the urgent need for a reformed and freer media environment in Nigeria.
