ABUJA — Justice For All Nations (JFAN), a United States-based non-governmental organization, has blasted Amnesty International Nigeria and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for calling on President Bola Tinubu to withdraw cybercrime charges filed against activist Omoyele Sowore.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Monday and signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, JFAN described the calls as “self-serving, hypocritical and a defence of impunity,” insisting that Sowore must face trial and defend his claims in court.
According to the group, Sowore should be compelled to present evidence of any conviction against President Tinubu to justify what it called his “reckless statement.”
“It is strange that Amnesty International could turn itself into a defender of blackmail and ‘activism for cash’ that Sowore is known for,” JFAN declared.
The organization also lashed out at SERAP, dismissing it as “a business enterprise disguised as a Civil Society Organisation,” and argued it was unsurprising that the group would back Sowore, who recently described Tinubu as a criminal.
“In the United States, where Sowore hides to perpetrate his business of ‘cashtivism and blackmail,’ can any citizen who has not been convicted by a court of law be called a criminal?” JFAN queried.
The group further accused Sowore of complicity in violence during the 2019 governorship election in Rivers State, alleging that his African Action Congress (AAC) party collaborated with then-Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s camp.
“One of those killed in the desperate bid to rig that election was Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer at Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori. What did Amnesty International and SERAP do then?” JFAN asked.
JFAN urged Nigeria’s anti-corruption and security agencies to scrutinize the activities of certain civil society organisations and activists, alleging that many operate as “vehicles for money laundering and terrorism funding.”
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