President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, together with Nigeria’s 36 state governors, has been taken to courtroom by the Socio-Financial Rights and Accountability Mission (SERAP). The case is earlier than the Financial Group of West African States (ECOWAS) Group Court docket of Justice in Abuja.
SERAP, a well known non-governmental group, claims that the federal government has been misusing the Cybercrimes (Modification) Act 2024 to silence residents. In line with SERAP, this legislation is getting used to focus on activists, journalists, bloggers, and social media customers who peacefully specific their opinions.
SERAP’s Considerations
In a press release, SERAP highlighted how the Cybercrimes Act, initially meant to make our on-line world safer, is now being “weaponized” to violate folks’s rights. They argue that the legislation has led to:
- Intimidation and harassment of social media customers.
- Arbitrary arrests and detentions.
- Unfair prosecution of people who share their ideas on-line.
SERAP particularly talked about Part 24 of the amended act, which criminalizes content material deemed “offensive,” “insulting,” or “annoying.” The group claims these phrases are obscure and infrequently used in opposition to folks even when their statements are factual and truthful.
Why this issues
Freedom of expression is a basic proper, and SERAP believes the misuse of the Cybercrimes Act threatens this proper. By submitting this case, the NGO hopes to problem the legality of the act and its compatibility with worldwide human rights requirements.
SERAP’s attorneys, Andrew Nwankwo and Adelanke Aremo, filed the swimsuit on behalf of the group. No date has been set but for the listening to.
This isn’t the primary time SERAP has taken authorized motion to guard human rights in Nigeria. They’ve beforehand challenged different authorities actions, together with points associated to election malpractice and corruption.
With this case, SERAP goals to make sure that Nigerians can specific themselves freely on-line with out worry of harassment or authorized penalties. The result of this lawsuit might have a big influence on how digital rights and freedom of expression are upheld in Nigeria.
