News
Charges against Sowore a mockery of justice, end the case now, SERAP tells Malami
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to Mr Abukabar Malami, SAN, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, urging him to use his position “to without delay enter a nolle prosequi and discontinue the prosecution of the Convener of ‘RevolutionNow’ protest and publisher of Sahara Reporters, Mr Omoyele Sowore, and Olawale Bakare, also known as Mandate for apparently politically motivated charges of treason, fraud and ‘insulting President Muhammadu Buhari’.”
SERAP said: “We urge you to use your role as a trustee of the public interest under section 174 of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 (as amended) to end several of similar trumped-up cases going on in several states.”
In the letter dated 21 September 2019 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the group said: “Sowore’s case and several similar cases instigated/brought by state governors make a hideous mockery of Nigeria’s criminal justice systems, rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom. These cases are persecution and not prosecution. As guardian of the public interest, you have a role to end this travesty now, and to maintain the sanctity and integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.”
SERAP also said: “These cases set a dangerous precedent for the misuse and subversion of the justice system, which may lead to the politicization of the judiciary. This will be bad for everyone—ordinary citizens, journalists and even the politicians in power, as they may themselves become targets of these repressive and abusive tactics when they are out of power/in opposition.”
The letter read in part: “While the Nigerian government has the responsibility to prevent and prosecute criminal offences, it ought to do so lawfully, and in full compliance with human rights and the rule of law. Exercising your constitutional independence and discretion to withdraw these kinds of charges would meet the test of reasonableness, demands of justice, and as noted, serve the public interest.”
“Laws against terrorism and money laundering should be properly used, and not to undermine critical voices, activists, and the media. Invoking the charges of a treasonable felony to unjustifiably or arbitrarily restrict the right to freedom of opinion and expression would minimise the seriousness with which our laws traditionally treat such offences, and undermine the essence of the criminal justice system and the rule of law.”
“If not urgently addressed, the misuse of the criminal justice system and politicization of Nigeria’s judiciary would jeopardise the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law and lower the public estimation of the ability of our justice system to serve as the last hope of justice for desperate victims. Unless these bogus charges are immediately withdrawn, there is a danger that the public interest represented by the courts and that represented by your role, might part company.”
“Attacks on journalism are fundamentally at odds with the protection of freedom of expression and access to information, which in turn is key to promoting transparency and accountability, and the achievement of the government’s anti-corruption agenda.”
“Withdrawing this case would send a strong message to many state governors that your office will not accept their persistent abuse of the criminal justice systems to jail journalists, bloggers and activists, just as it is, for example, the case in Cross River State, where journalists Agba Jalingo and Ekanem Ekpo have been charged with treason and now being detained for 90 days simply for reporting about an alleged diversion of N500 million by the Cross River governor, Ben Ayade.”
“As Nigeria’s Chief Law Officer, it is vital to our democracy, judicial independence and rule of law for you to stop the Federal Government and state governors from misrepresenting the country’s constitutional jurisprudence and international obligations in the matters of freedom of expression and media freedom.”
“SERAP notes that last Friday the Federal Government filed a seven-count charge of cybercrimes of insulting Mr Buhari, money laundering and treasonable felony against Sowore and Bakare. The charges followed their detention by security operatives on 2ndAugust 2019. The order was his detention was not made until the 8th of August.
“SERAP also notes that at a forum we organized in June 2019 to discuss the legality of the Cybercrimes Act, your representative and the Head of Cybercrimes Prosecution Unit in the Ministry of Justice Mr. Terlumun George Tyendezwa said the Justice Ministry was committed to pursuing the amendment of the Act, to remove its repressive provisions like insulting public officials, which is now being used in this case, and frequently to undermine freedom of expression, media freedom and provide special protection for public figures including president and state governors.”
“Nigerian constitution and international human rights treaties such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party protect even shocking and offensive speech.”
“Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee everyone’s right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers and through any media, including in the form of art.”
“The Human Rights Committee, in fact, underlines in General Comment 34 that laws should not provide for more severe penalties solely on the basis of the identity of the person and that the value placed by the Covenant upon uninhibited expression is particularly high in cases involving public or political figures. Thus, the mere fact that forms of expression are considered to be insulting to these figures is not sufficient to justify the imposition of penalties.”
“These restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom cannot meet the basic tests of legality, reasonableness and proportionality. It is normal for expression to provoke controversy, reaction and discourse, even anger but not punishment, fear and silence.”
“We hope that the aspects highlighted will help guide your actions in acting to withdraw the charges against Sowore and Bakare, and several other similar charges instigated or brought by state governors across the county. We would be happy to provide further information or to discuss any of these issues in more detail with you.”
Biafra
Tinubu Refused To Honour Our Agreement To Release Nnamdi Kanu After Election– Kanu’s Brother
Disclosing that the meeting had the blessing of the president, Emmanuel, however, lamented that Tinubu has refused to honour the pact by releasing his elder brother and the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS dungeon in Abuja, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Kanu, younger brother of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has said they had an agreement with President Bola Tinubu for the release of his elder brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Emmanuel disclosed that he had the pact with Tinubu’s son, Seyi, in Abuja before the 2023 presidential election.
Disclosing that the meeting had the blessing of the president, Emmanuel, however, lamented that Tinubu has refused to honour the pact by releasing his elder brother and the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from the DSS dungeon in Abuja, Nigeria.
According to him, it was agreed that IPOB would not bycott the polls on the condition that Tinubu would release Kanu if elected President.
Prince Emmanuel expressed disappointment that nearly two years after the emergence of Tinubu as President, his brother (Kanu), has continued to languish in detention despite the fact that the presiding Judge, Justice Binta Nyako, had since recused herself from the matter.
He said it was disappointing that those who claimed to be honourable, failed to keep their words.
The statement read:”Before the last election, I received a message from an ex-governor that Seyi the son of President Tinubu wanted to see me. I agreed to meet with him on the condition that the overriding priority and hence the fulcrum of our discussion will be the release of my brother. The meeting was held in Abuja in the presence of another individual whom I asked along to witness the deliberations and if need be provide independent verification should the need arise.
“Seyi confirmed to me that his father sanctioned the meeting and that I should consider any agreement we reach as binding on the then candidate Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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“In good faith we agreed that I shall relay the outcome to my brother to reinforce the long held tradition of IPOB not interfering with the conduct of elections, either through boycott or any other form of civil disobedience. This understanding was duly communicated to my brother and he reaffirmed his commitment not to stop the elections or order any boycott.
“When President Tinubu as a candidate visited Owerri during his campaign, he too reiterated his commitment to facilitate the release of my brother if elected. We took his public statement as a tacit reaffirmation of the understanding I reached with his son Seyi.
“At the end, IPOB did not call for election boycott despite having the capacity to do so. IPOB also made sure that discordant voices urging election boycott were overcome because election boycotts would not reflect well on the reputation of a global movement that prides itself on adherence to democratic tenets.
“It therefore, defies logic that nearly two years after President Tinubu assumed the mantle of leadership in Nigeria, my brother is still in detention despite not having any charge against him. It’s been over three months now that Justice Binta Nyako recused herself from the case yet no new judge has been assigned the case.
“This is on top of the fact that Appeal Court had earlier discharged him of the sham charges and ordered his release which the previous regime of Buhari declined to obey.
“Supreme Court determination that his bail ought not to have been revoked has been ignored by the courts and the government. The latest insult is that Abuja courts of all persuasion are no longer willing to determine the case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu on merit but are rather relying on ludicrous and inapplicable technicalities to stall the timely determination of his cases.
“The truth is that Nigerian courts cannot, will not and do not have both the substantive and procedural jurisdiction to try him. His detention is without the backing of any known law in Nigeria or elsewhere in the world.”
International
US ELECTION: Trump Escapes Three Assassination Attempts, What Next As Date Draws Near?
“We seen them trying to get rid of D. Trump 3 times already. They all know who’s going to win. But now since he is still alive we will see overtly on a systematic level through this election where it will be obvious to everyone what they are willing to do to retain power.”
The desperation of interested parties to retain power and occupy the Oval Office in the White House, United States of America, has led to three failed assassination attempts on the 45th US President, Donald John Trump.
Trump is the Republican Party’s Presidential nominee in the November 5th Presidential election, and adjudged as the 47th US President hopeful in the forthcoming election, if it will be free and fair by all standards and without interferences from the “Obamas” “Hillarys” “Deep State” etc.
The “fight” to retain power in the White House has become dirtiest from 2020 to 2024, a clear statement of extreme desperation leading to blackmail, chaos and possible escalations of assassination attempts.
A post made on X by “Ariel @Prolotario1” stated that “The Beast” will “become extremely desperate” because they know who will win the election if it will be a free and fair election.
The post reads in full:
“I hope everyone is ready for these remaining months up into inauguration. Because we will see “The Beast” become extremely desperate. They didn’t want to rely on attempting to steal the election.
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“We seen them trying to get rid of D. Trump 3 times already. They all know who’s going to win. But now since he is still alive we will see overtly on a systematic level through this election where it will be obvious to everyone what they are willing to do to retain power.
“Will we get a power grid outage?
“Will we get another false flag?
“Will the Project Bluebeam be launched?
“There are multiple things they can pull from. But I do not think we will leave the remainder of 2024 behind without some massive event occurring? Since 1988 we have had something major happen every 12 years.
“1988 (Elusive Mind Wipe)
“1999 (Y2k)
“2012 (Mayan Calendar)
“2024? Will it be obvious this time?
“Either way we have had many clues that everything will happen this year in terms of things coming to a point where it can no longer be ignored. Which is why I think the Deep State will pull something off to jump start this process.
“Donald Trump said many times on his Truthsocial account that the US Military is standing by. One time he mentioned during his Las Vegas rally that they will step in if November 5th is interfered with. We have to prepare for anything.”
Entertainment
Sean Diddy Combs In The Eyes Of The Storm
These are blackpillers who no longer see no value in anything. They have given themselves a shot in the arm and that fluid is coursing through their veins and they themselves will have to go through a major detox that we are no longer equipped to help them with.
By Ariel (@Prolotario1 on X)
𝙃𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙮𝙬𝙤𝙤𝙙: 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝘽𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡
The Royals
Congress
LeBron James
Usher
Dwyane Wade
MGK
Ashton Kutcher
Naomi Campbell
Bobby Valentino
Busta Rhymes
Mark Wahlberg
Clive Davis
Denzel Washington
Kevin Hart
Jay-Z
Beyonce
Mariah Carey
Etc.
“What did Katt Williams say? It’s up for all of them.
“You all have had your fun. You have had your way. You have had your time in the sun. But now all of this is about to come to a screeching halt. You all are about to see many celebrities suddenly become ill. Retiring prematurely. Moving to another country. No longer being interested in acting. They are going to be dropped from endorsement deals.
“They will be let go by sports teams. You will no longer see them at award shows. You will no longer see them featured on songs or commercials. Clothing brands will ditch them. They will be removed from their charity foundations. You will see a lot of things. Because this is it people. This is what you waited for. We fought for this by sharing all the info we could. And our work is paying off.
“The victims will be vindicated. We will no longer be shunned by society. They will be forced to confront all the things they denied in order to stay in the good graces of people who couldn’t care less about “The Truth”. All the trolls are about to eat crow. Do not pay them any mind at this point. They have nothing to lose. So they will attempt to downplay the significance of this.
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“These are blackpillers who no longer see no value in anything. They have given themselves a shot in the arm and that fluid is coursing through their veins and they themselves will have to go through a major detox that we are no longer equipped to help them with. It’s going to take God himself to come down here and awaken them. This is no our concern.
“The curtain is falling, not with a gentle whisper but with the thunderous crash of an era ending. The lights that once shone on these figures, illuminating their every move, are now flickering out, one by one, in a spectacle of dramatic dimness. This isn’t merely the end of a chapter; it’s the apocalyptic conclusion of a saga where fame was both the sword and the shield, now rusted and discarded.
“As the tide turns, those who once danced in the spotlight will find themselves in shadows, not by choice but by the inexorable force of revelation. Their names, once synonymous with glamour and success, will become whispers of caution, tales told in the dim corners where once their glory was celebrated. The red carpets, once rolled out in their honor, will be retracted, leaving behind only the echo of their steps.
“This shift is not just a change in the public’s affection; it’s a seismic cultural realignment. The idols of yesteryear, who seemed untouchable, are now facing the reality of their own human fragility. The public, once their adoring crowd, now becomes their jury, delivering a verdict that resonates with the weight of truth over the dazzle of stardom.
“In this new dawn, the narratives will rewrite themselves. The stories of courage will not be about overcoming adversity in the spotlight but about facing the aftermath in the cold light of day. Those who once thrived on the applause will learn the silence of solitude, not by choice but by necessity. The world watches, not with voyeuristic glee, but with a sober understanding that even the stars must sometimes fall to earth.
Tinubu Refused To Honour Our Agreement To Release Nnamdi Kanu After Election– Kanu’s Brother
US ELECTION: Trump Escapes Three Assassination Attempts, What Next As Date Draws Near?
Sean Diddy Combs In The Eyes Of The Storm
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