Amnesty International declares Sowore, Agba Jalingo as prisoners of conscience
- 21/11/2019 02:45:00
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Amnesty International, Nigeria,
says the continued detention of Omoyele Sowore and Agba Jalingo is a matter of
shame for Nigeria.
In a statement issued on
Wednesday, Seun Bakare, the organisation’s programmes manager, said Sowore,
convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, Olawale Bakare, an activist, and
Jalingo are prisoners of conscience for criticising the government.
While Sowore and Bakare are still
in detention despite the court ordering their release, Jalingo, a journalist,
is facing trial for criticising Cross River state government.
The human rights organisation
alleged that the government has repeatedly targeted activists and journalists
in order to stifle dissenting voices.
It asked the federal government
to drop charges against the trio and release them.
“We consider Sowore, Jalingo and
Bakare to be prisoners of conscience detained solely for exercising their human
rights,” the statement read.
“The Nigerian authorities must
drop all charges against them and release them immediately and unconditionally.
“Sowore, Jalingo and Bakare’s
continued detention is a matter of shame for Nigeria. Their cases show just how
far the authorities in Nigeria can go to silence their critics.
“The government of President
Muhammadu Buhari needs to stop filing bogus and politically motivated charges
against critics, and start listening to what they have to say.
“The flawed charges and sham
trials of Sowore, Jalingo and Bakare expose the inadequacies and bizarre
manipulation of the Nigerian criminal justice system and an unacceptable
contempt for the rule of law and human rights.”
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