Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has welcomed decision by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordering the immediate release of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, from the custody of the Department of State Service as “a victory for the rule of law, human rights and judicial independence.”

In a statement, SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare said: “It's a huge relief that Sowore will be freed and can finally return to his family and journalism work. He should never have been detained in the first place. The Nigerian authorities should now withdraw all the charges against him and allow freedom of expression and media freedom to flourish. It’s good for everyone.”

SERAP said: “The Nigerian authorities now have to fully comply with this ruling by immediately releasing Sowore. The decision is a timely reminder of Nigeria’s constitutional and international obligations to protect journalists, activists and Nigerians in general, and to put a stop to its current practice of restricting the civic space.”

The statement read in part: “We hope this decision will make the Nigerian authorities and state governors stop and reflect on their ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression and media freedom including online, and also help to put an end to other human rights violations of journalists and citizens in general. Other journalists like Agba Jalingo and Ekanem Ekpo currently being detained, must be immediately and unconditionally released.”

“If a court found it possible to release Sowore, we are sure that all the circumstances were studied, and an objective decision was made.”

It would be recalled that SERAP had on Saturday has sent an open letter to Mr Abukabar Malami, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, urging him to use his position “to without delay enter a nolle prosequi and discontinue the prosecution of the Convener of ‘RevolutionNow’ protest and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate for apparently politically motivated charges of treason, fraud and ‘insulting President Muhammadu Buhari’.”

SERAP said: “We urge you to use your role as a trustee of the public interest under section 174 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) to end several of similar trumped-up cases going on in several states.”

SERAP’s letter read in part: “Sowore’s case and several similar cases instigated/brought by state governors make a hideous mockery of Nigeria’s criminal justice systems, rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom. These cases are persecution and not prosecution. As guardian of the public interest, you have a role to end this travesty now, and to maintain the sanctity and integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.”

“These cases set a dangerous precedent for the misuse and subversion of the justice system, which may lead to the politicization of judiciary. This will be bad for everyone—ordinary citizens, journalists and even the politicians in power, as they may themselves become targets of these repressive and abusive tactics when they are out of power/in opposition.”

http://serap-nigeria.org/sowores-release-a-victory-for-the-rule-of-law-serap.ngo/

Freedom at last. Like I always tell people don't expect everybody to agree with you all time.

No be everybody go dey say yes sir, yes sir! Once someone's view or opinion is not as urs don't tag them enemy.

I hope the president accepts the court order.....

Because deaf man don't hear.....

See people here now celebrating Sowore. Where were they when he was suffering for fighting for them.
DONT BE AN HYPOCRITE.
LET'S JOIN HIM IN THE STRUGGLE TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY NOW.
#revolutionNow is for our Freedom

STOP BEING A SLAVE, WE ARE THE POWER. GOVERNMENT DOESNT EXIST WITHOUT THE PEOPLE.

After how many days ?
What’s the rule of law ?

oboi

Nice one. Freedom is not free.

Nigeria will be there one day

Bad day for , Sarrki, and NgeneUkwenu.

Every news just dey against them today.

This is a big knock out for them....

Has he been fully released yet or he has only been granted bail?
Are they the same thing?

Shame to tyranny

Another call for revolution loading. No retreat, no surrender. Buhari gotta go

he is finally saved From the hands of our tyrant president

ttaluko:
Nigeria will be there one day

Because ttaluko just said it?
Or because of what

lets be sure he is free b4 celebrating, just in case Bubu changes mind

Hopefully in Nigeria we would get to a point where freedom of speech is a cherished right...even for Kanu followers, Shiites, etc.

We are getting there. Before 1999...Sowore would have been locked up in jail incommunicado...or worse. That we are now going through court process is a sign of improvement...and I hope things get better.

Sowore meeting those behind the revolution tonight

Lol

kennynelcon:
After how many days ?
What’s the rule of law ?

You are asking for rule of law under a tyrant and dictator?
Are you for real?

Good one

The head of state is out of state, till he returns we wait.

Hold sway Nna Sowore

Would he be freed?

to those enemies/haters of sowore, SHAME ON UNA

We might hear story that he is no where to be found or dead

Omokirikiri and oda misfortune enemies go get stomach ulcer.shame on All pigs

Sowore na yoruba man na, na Lamidi Kanu buhari fit try nonsense with, level pass levels.
We are omoluabi we don't make noise online we aproach.the.court

Falana freed ekzakzaki and now Sowore no wonder he was fela's lawyer
...