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June 15, 2025 – Nigeria –
Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, urged the federal government to discontinue all criminal prosecutions targeting journalists and citizens for criticizing public officials. Falana’s call follows President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech on June 12, in which the president emphasized that honest criticism—even harsh reporting—should not lead to criminal charges.
Quoting Tinubu’s declaration—“no one should suffer injustice for simply writing a negative report about me or calling me names”—Falana implored Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to act accordingly by withdrawing all pending criminal cases against journalists and other Nigerians. He stressed that public officials who feel defamed should pursue civil, not criminal, litigation, preserving democratic norms and protecting freedom of expression.
Falana raised concerns about how provisions in the Cybercrimes Act and criminal defamation laws are increasingly weaponized to intimidate journalists, whistleblowers, and activists exposing misconduct among public figures. He affirmed that democracy is weakened when dissent is criminalized, and argued that the misuse of legal systems damages public trust and democratic accountability.
His message received broad coverage across Nigerian media, including Arise News, The Nigerian Tribune, The Nigerian Lawyer, and others, all emphasizing the urgency of aligning prosecutorial practices with democratic values. The lawyer’s position also reiterates his past advocacy, successfully challenging criminal defamation laws, such as the 1985 Arthur Nwankwo v. The State ruling, which further supports his argument that criminal penalties for criticism are incompatible with constitutional rights.
Civil society groups and press freedom advocates are now calling on the AGF to formally withdraw these prosecutions and guide public officers towards civil redress. This shift would safeguard journalists and citizens from criminal liability for expressing dissent, reinforcing Nigeria’s constitutional commitment to open discourse.
As Nigeria commemorates Democracy Day, Falana’s appeal underscores the need for legal reforms, vigilance against authoritarian backsliding, and ensuring that the country’s democratic ideals are upheld in practice, not merely in speech.
Reference –
https://tribuneonlineng.com/falana-urges-fg-to-drop-criminal-charges-against-critics/
