Obey ECOWAS Court judgement, end prosecution for cyberstalking – SERAP to Buhari

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has
called on President Muhammadu Buhari to implement the ECOWAS Court of Justice’s
judgment to stop the prosecutions of anyone on the grounds of ‘insulting’ or
‘stalking’ public officials online.

In a statement on Sunday, Kolawole Oluwadare, the Deputy
Director of SERAP, warned Buhari against shrinking the civic space through the
usage of the Cybercrime Act and other repressive laws.

The group lamented the recent surge of the crackdown on
media houses and freedom of speech by citizens.

SERAP cited the N5 million fine imposed on Channels
Television for allegedly violating the National Broadcasting Commission code
during an interview with the Labour Party Vice Presidential Candidate, Datti
Baba-Ahmed and other recent cases of attack on free speech and media.

It said, “Many Nigerians and media houses continue to face
threats simply for speaking out and seeking to peacefully exercise their human
rights and carry out their professional duties. This situation is contrary to
the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the judgments by the ECOWAS
Court.”