US-Based Group Faults SERAP, Amnesty Over Sowore, Labels Call to Drop Charges Hypocritical

Justice For All Nations (JFAN), a non-governmental organization headquartered in the United States, has criticized the recent appeal by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International Nigeria urging President Bola Tinubu to withdraw cybercrime charges against activist Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement issued on Monday by its Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, the group described the joint call as “self-serving and hypocritical,” stressing that Sowore should face trial and be compelled to substantiate his allegations against President Tinubu with a valid court judgment.

JFAN expressed surprise at Amnesty International’s position, accusing the global rights body of shielding impunity and promoting what it termed Sowore’s “cash-driven activism and blackmail.” It further dismissed SERAP as a “business venture masquerading as a civil society organisation,” arguing that its stance was predictable given its track record.

“Would it be acceptable in the United States, where Sowore resides, for a person with no court conviction to be branded a criminal?” the group asked.

The organization also revisited the 2019 governorship election crisis in Rivers State, alleging that Sowore’s African Action Congress (AAC) collaborated with then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s camp in attempts to manipulate the polls. JFAN recalled that several lives were lost, including that of Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer at Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, yet Amnesty International and SERAP were silent at the time.

The group urged Nigeria’s anti-corruption and security agencies to intensify scrutiny of certain human rights and civil society organizations, alleging that many of them are being used as fronts for money laundering and terrorism financing.