SERAP drags Tinubu, govs to ECOWAS Court for using Cybercrimes Act to criminalise free speech
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a suit at the ECOWAS Court against the Bola Tinubu government and governors over their oppressive use of the Cybercrimes Act.
In a statement on Sunday, SERAP said the cybercrime act is being used to violate Nigerians’ rights to freedom of expression, shutting down dissenting voices against the government.
SERAP said, “We’ve asked the ECOWAS Court of Justice to stop the Tinubu administration and Nigeria’s 36 governors from using the Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act 2024 to criminalise legitimate expression and punish Nigerians, including social media users.
“Rather than using the amended legislation to make cyberspace and its users safer, Nigerian authorities are routinely weaponising it to curb Nigerians’ human rights and media freedom,” the organisation said.
SERAP, in the statement, said the suit, ECW/CCJ/APP/03/2025, was filed last week before the court in Abuja.
The development comes after nurse and activist Olamide Thomas was remanded for alleged cyberbullying over social media comments about Mr Tinubu, his son Seyi Tinubu, and children of two police officers.
A popular TikToker, Seaking, was also arrested for criticising Mr Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in a video condemning the police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, for saying it is a criminal offence to insult people online.
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