Cyberstalking Allegation: Global Human Rights Groups Condemn HEDA, Suraj’s Alleged Indictment, Write AGF Malami

Dear Attorney-General Abubakar Malami SAN,

 

Our attention has been drawn to press reports of an indictment, approved by your office, against Olanrewaju Suraju, chair of the anti-corruption and human right group HEDA, for alleged cyberstalking.[1]

 

As at the time of writing, we are assured that Mr Suraju has neither been served with the indictment (despite its circulation in the press) nor provided with any evidence supporting the charges.

 

We note that the indictment alleges offences under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act.

 

We also note that the cyberstalking charges accuse Mr Suraju of having circulated documents that were accepted as evidence by courts in Italy and/or the United Kingdom.

 

We are gravely concerned by the intended prosecution of Mr Suraju.

 

It is a fundamental right to report on court proceedings and the use of the Cybercrimes Act to criminalise those who exercise that right is alarming.

 

We are also shocked that Nigeria should still be using the Act given the recent ruling by the ECOWAS court that the Act is unconstitutional and must be repealed.[2] For Nigeria to ignore this ruling will send a regrettable signal that the current government does not respect international treaties to which it is a Party. Indeed, your own office has accepted that the Act needs amending.[3]

 

We would therefore urge you to reconsider the indictment of Mr Suraju.

 

We will be closely monitoring the progress of the case and will draw our concerns to the attention of our governments and international human rights bodies.

 

Please acknowledge receipt and respond to staylor@globalwitness.org

Yours Sincerely,

                            

Thomas W. Pogge; Leitner Professor of Philosophy           Christian Mounzeo

and International Affairs, Yale University,                              La Campagne au Congo

PO Box 208306, New Haven, CT 06520-8306                         Congo-Brazzaville

 

                                                    

Dr. Robert Rotberg,                                                                         Dr. Claudia Escobar

Vice-Chair, Integrity Initiatives International                         Executive Director, Be Just

 

 

Sarah Chayes (www.sarahchayes.org)                                     Professor Jodi Vittori

Author:  Thieves of State: Why Corruption                             Global Politics and Security Co-Chair

Threatens Global Security                                                             Georgetown University

                           

Susan Hawley                                                                    Frank Vogl

Executive Director                                                           Co-founder, Transparency International

Spotlight on Corruption                                                                 Chairman, Partnership for Transparency Fund

www.spotlightcorruption.org                                     Washington DC, USA.

Peter Lipman                                                                     Stanley Achonu

Director                                                                                Nigeria Director

Anthropocene Actions CIC                                           The One Campaign

               

Carly Oboth                                                                        Melissa Fourie

Director                                                                                Executive Director

Publish What You Say United States                         Centre for Environmental Rights

http://www.pwypusa.org/                                          mfourie@cer.org.za

                              

Luca Manes                                                                        Nicholas Hildyard

Director                                                                                Director

Re:Common                                                                       The Corner House

                                           

Simon Taylor                                                                      Susanne Breitkopf

Co-Founder & Director                                                   Deputy Director Forests Campaign

Global Witness                                                                  Environmental Investigation Agency

www.globalwitness.org                                                https://eia-global.org/

 

mtdiallo84@gmail.com                                                                               

PWYP Africa Member

                                                                                                Tijah Bolton-Akpan

                                                                                                Policy Alert, Nigeria

Calvin Laing

Member – Publish What You Pay

 

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