A United States-based non-governmental organization, Justice For All Nations (JFAN), has condemned the call by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Amnesty International Nigeria urging President Bola Tinubu to withdraw the cybercrime charges filed against activist Omoyele Sowore.

In a statement issued Monday and signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Dada Popoola, JFAN described the demand as “self-serving and hypocritical,” insisting that Sowore must stand trial and be ready to produce the alleged court judgment convicting President Tinubu to justify his “reckless and defamatory” remarks.

JFAN expressed shock that Amnesty International had “reduced itself to defending impunity, blackmail, and cash-driven activism” for which Sowore has allegedly become known.

The group also accused SERAP of operating as a business enterprise under the guise of a civil society organization, saying it was not surprising that it would defend “someone who publicly called the President of Nigeria a criminal without a court conviction.”

“Even in the United States where Sowore resides, can any citizen who has not been convicted by a court of law be called a criminal? The answer is no,” JFAN stressed.

The group further questioned the silence of Amnesty International and SERAP during the violent incidents that marred the 2019 governorship elections in Rivers State, which it alleged were orchestrated to benefit Sowore’s African Action Congress (AAC) after he “traded” the party’s ticket.

“One of the victims of that bloody election was Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer at Ken Saro Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori. Where were Amnesty International and SERAP when innocent citizens were being killed?” JFAN asked.

The group urged Nigeria’s anti-corruption and security agencies to investigate the activities of some civil society organizations and human rights activists, describing many of them as “fronts for money laundering and possible terrorism financing.”