A United States‑based non‑governmental organization, Justice For All Nations (JFAN), has sharply criticized the appeal by the Socio‑Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International Nigeria for President Bola Tinubu to drop cybercrime charges against activist Omoyele Sowore. In a press statement issued on Monday, JFAN’s coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, called the appeal “self‑serving and hypocritical” and argued that Sowore should be prepared to defend his statements in court, especially his accusations against President Tinubu.
JFAN also questioned Amnesty International’s stance, suggesting the organization has become a defender of “impunity, blackmail, and ‘activism for cash’” associated with Sowore. The group labeled SERAP a “business enterprise” masquerading as a civil‑society organization and noted that SERAP’s defense of Sowore—who has called the Nigerian president a criminal—is unsurprising. JFAN asked whether any U.S. citizen, where Sowore is based, can be deemed a criminal without a court conviction.
The organization further highlighted Amnesty International’s and SERAP’s silence during the 2019 Rivers State election violence that led to the death of Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer at Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic. JFAN urged Nigeria’s anti‑corruption and security agencies to scrutinize civil‑society groups and human‑rights activists, citing concerns about money laundering and terrorism financing.
The controversy surrounds Sowore’s ongoing cybercrime case and his criticisms of President Tinubu. JFAN’s statement underscores the complex and often contentious relationships among the government, civil society, and activists in Nigeria. As the case proceeds, the Nigerian government’s response to JFAN’s remarks and the actions of anti‑corruption agencies will be closely watched in the coming days.
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