Falana Urges AGF to Withdraw Cyberbullying Charges Against Omoyele Sowore

 Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to withdraw the cyberbullying charges filed against Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and a prominent political activist.

The charges, which were filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), accuse Sowore of cyberstalking and harassing public officials through his online media platform. However, Falana argues that the allegations are baseless and amount to an attempt to suppress press freedom and intimidate journalists who expose government misconduct.

According to Falana, the Cybercrime Act under which Sowore is being charged has been widely criticized for being used as a tool to silence dissent. He cited previous cases where journalists, activists, and citizens have faced legal action for making critical remarks about public officials on social media.

He further stated that Sowore’s reports and commentaries fall within the constitutional right to freedom of expression and that attempting to criminalize such actions could set a dangerous precedent for press freedom in Nigeria.

The case has drawn reactions from media organizations and civil society groups, who argue that Nigeria’s democracy is under threat if journalists and activists continue to be prosecuted for exposing wrongdoing. Sowore, known for his fearless reporting and political activism, has often been at odds with the government, leading to multiple arrests and legal battles.

With this latest development, Falana has urged the AGF to drop the charges in the interest of justice and press freedom, stating that Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive under an atmosphere of intimidation.