Human rights activist and politician Omoyele Sowore has condemned the arrest of bloggers over a false report involving businessman Tony Elumelu, describing the action as unjustified, Peak Newspaper reports
Sowore argued that issues related to defamation or false publication are civil matters that should be handled in court, not through criminal arrests by the Nigeria Police Force.
He warned that using law enforcement to detain individuals over online publications could threaten freedom of expression and press freedom in the country.
The controversy follows reports that some bloggers were picked up by police after allegedly publishing unverified claims about Elumelu’s marriage, which were later disputed.
Authorities have yet to release full details of the arrests, but the development has sparked debate over the boundaries between misinformation, defamation, and criminal liability in Nigeria’s digital space.
