PRESS STATEMENT
EUROPE, NIGERIA BASED GROUPS ADOPT SOWORE AS PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE
International civil right groups in collaboration with their Nigerian counterparts have this weekend adopted detained Publisher of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore as a Prisoner of Conscience.
In a statement on Saturday, Human Environment Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) in collaboration with United Kingdom based groups, Global witness, Cornerhouse and Re:Common of Italy and their counterparts in Nigeria adopted Sowore as Prisoner of Conscience, a term adopted in 1961 to qualify people detained for their political beliefs.
Scores of Prisoners of Conscience have been adopted across Africa and have always formed the rallying point for intensive international campaigns against their home governments.
Local partners of the initiative are Civil Society Network Against Corruption, (CSNAC), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR), Journalists for Democratic Rigths, (JODER) and several others.
The statement signed by Olanrewaju Suraju stated “We have followed with keen interest the arrest and prosecution of Mr Omoyele Sowore, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters.
He was detained for 45 days on obvious trumped up charges.
At the expiration of the 45 days, his lawyer Mr Femi Falana, (SAN) went to court seeking his bail. The Court of Justice gave the order releasing him on bail. It’s now three days after the bail was granted, the Nigerian Federal authorities have refused to release him.”
The statement said the prosecution of the activist has now turned into persecution.
The groups said from all indications, Mr Sowore is being held “for his strong political views which appear to be against the interests of those in power”
The group said it has now adopted Sowore as a Prisoner of Conscience.
The right groups stated “With this adoption, the floodgates of international campaign has been opened for a vigorous lobby for the immediate release of Mr Sowore. It will involve engagement of regional and international organisations and working within the United Nations, (UN) and the European Union, (EU) system.”
Sahara Reporters with over 25million subscribers, it noted remains one of the most powerful tools of social change in Nigeria adding that the Nigerian government shoukd have seen such a medium as a partner instead of isolating the publisher for deleberate assaults
The groups said “Sowore is now an imprisoned person with a global status. His medium, Sahara Reporters has been consistent in exposing the ills of the Nigerian and indeed African societies.
He has devoted his platform for the cause of the public good, confronting corrupt and tyrannical leaders, fighting them in ways deadlier than weapons of war. He has over the years broken borders and swept a new wave of renaissance across Africa and in particular, Nigeria, his fatherland. His case is that of outright persecution with the government insisting on a ring of capital offence around his neck.”
The groups said framing charges of treason again a single person who is a journalist, without any collaborators suggests that some powerful politicians would wish to see Sowore dead.”
It noted that reasonable felony is not a capital offence under section 41 of the Criminal Code.
The groups said with the adoption, a global platform will be opened for people of conscience all over the world to join the campaign for his release.
The groups regretted that Nigerian government is creating what it called “awful impression” about human rights and democracy in Nigeria adding that the growing trend of right violations will affect economic prosperity and equal opportunities since no investor wants to put money in a siege and unstable environment
International civil right groups in collaboration with their Nigerian counterparts have this weekend adopted detained Publisher of Sahara Reporters Omoyele Sowore as a Prisoner of Conscience.
In a statement on Saturday, Human Environment Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) in collaboration with United Kingdom based groups, Global witness, Cornerhouse and Re:Common of Italy and their counterparts in Nigeria adopted Sowore as Prisoner of Conscience, a term adopted in 1961 to qualify people detained for their political beliefs.
Scores of Prisoners of Conscience have been adopted across Africa and have always formed the rallying point for intensive international campaigns against their home governments.
Local partners of the initiative are Civil Society Network Against Corruption, (CSNAC), Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, (CDHR), Journalists for Democratic Rigths, (JODER) and several others.
The statement signed by Olanrewaju Suraju stated “We have followed with keen interest the arrest and prosecution of Mr Omoyele Sowore, the Publisher of Sahara Reporters.
He was detained for 45 days on obvious trumped up charges.
At the expiration of the 45 days, his lawyer Mr Femi Falana, (SAN) went to court seeking his bail. The Court of Justice gave the order releasing him on bail. It’s now three days after the bail was granted, the Nigerian Federal authorities have refused to release him.”
The statement said the prosecution of the activist has now turned into persecution.
The groups said from all indications, Mr Sowore is being held “for his strong political views which appear to be against the interests of those in power”
The group said it has now adopted Sowore as a Prisoner of Conscience.
The right groups stated “With this adoption, the floodgates of international campaign has been opened for a vigorous lobby for the immediate release of Mr Sowore. It will involve engagement of regional and international organisations and working within the United Nations, (UN) and the European Union, (EU) system.”
Sahara Reporters with over 25million subscribers, it noted remains one of the most powerful tools of social change in Nigeria adding that the Nigerian government shoukd have seen such a medium as a partner instead of isolating the publisher for deleberate assaults
The groups said “Sowore is now an imprisoned person with a global status. His medium, Sahara Reporters has been consistent in exposing the ills of the Nigerian and indeed African societies.
He has devoted his platform for the cause of the public good, confronting corrupt and tyrannical leaders, fighting them in ways deadlier than weapons of war. He has over the years broken borders and swept a new wave of renaissance across Africa and in particular, Nigeria, his fatherland. His case is that of outright persecution with the government insisting on a ring of capital offence around his neck.”
The groups said framing charges of treason again a single person who is a journalist, without any collaborators suggests that some powerful politicians would wish to see Sowore dead.”
It noted that reasonable felony is not a capital offence under section 41 of the Criminal Code.
The groups said with the adoption, a global platform will be opened for people of conscience all over the world to join the campaign for his release.
The groups regretted that Nigerian government is creating what it called “awful impression” about human rights and democracy in Nigeria adding that the growing trend of right violations will affect economic prosperity and equal opportunities since no investor wants to put money in a siege and unstable environment