Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), says critics of Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, are currently facing prosecution.
Charges ranging from incitement of public disturbance, injurious falsehood and defamation have been filed against some persons.
This has triggered criticisms, with many accusing el-Rufai of being behind their trial.
In a statement on Monday, Aisha Dikko, attorney-general of Kaduna, distanced the governor from the trial, emphasising that the state government filed the charges against them.
But responding in a tweet, Odinkalu alleged that the governor has been persecuting his critics.
