Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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Nigeria Aims to Silence Dissent With Charges Against Prominent Journalist,
Advocates Say

Salem Solomon

   WASHINGTON - After months in prison and a prolonged legal fight, a
   prominent Nigerian journalist and activist is now facing charges of
   treason.
   Omoyele Sowore, founder of the news website Sahara Reporters, appeared
   before the High Court in Abuja Wednesday and was given a date for a
   hearing in April. He was initially arrested last August by Nigeria's
   Department of State Services, the country's counterintelligence and
   counterterror force.
   The arrest came after Sowore organized an event, Revolution Now, to
   protest corruption and allegedly unfair elections. He was released Dec.
   5, rearrested the following day and released again Dec. 24, at the
   direction of Nigeria's attorney general.
   'Spoken truth to power'
   Sowore's wife told VOA he is being punished for expressing dissent.
   "Yele is currently in the situation that he is in because he has spoken
   truth to power. So as a result, he has been charged with treason,"
   Opeyemi Sowore told VOA.
   She said Nigeria's constitution protects freedom of assembly and
   peaceful protests, and she believes the charges against her husband are
   unfounded and intended to intimidate him and others who protest against
   the government.
   "No evidence has been produced to support the case of treason. Again,
   the case is based on the fact that he organized a peaceful protest,
   which is not illegal in Nigeria," she said. "So others who actually
   attended the protest were charged with unlawful gathering, and many of
   them are free at the moment."

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