MURIC Urges Sowore’s Release, Condemns His Reckless Statements

A request has come from the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) for the release of  Omoyele Sowore.

Sowore, an activist, lawyer, politician and Publisher of SaharaReporters, is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services, DSS, over an  alleged cybercrime charges.

In a social media post, he called President Bola Tinubu a criminal, and ignored the DSS which urged him to take down the offensive post.

Since prosecution, he has been in out of custody. Penultimate week, he was absent at a Court hearing, which prompted the trial Judge to revoke the bail he had been enjoying. On appearance in Court on Monday, he was ordered remanded in Kuje Prison custody pending the hearing for the warrant of arrest on him to be lifted, and the trial Judge to recuse himself from the case.

On Wednesday, however, the trial Judge moved the hearing again to June 30.

In a statement on Thursday, MURIC while demanding for his release from Prison Custody, also asked Sowore and other activists like him,  to exercise caution in their public engagements.

MURIC  warned against statements capable of inflaming tensions or undermining civil discourse should be avoided.

Signed by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola the group expressed worries over the continued detention of Sowore, who is the  Presidential Candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC. It described the situation as

troubling for Nigeria’s democratic image.

While MURIC says the rule of law must be respected and judicial processes allowed to take their course, it noted that the detention of outspoken critics and activists raises serious concerns about freedom of speech and democratic tolerance in the country.