By Austin Ogwuda
THE arrest and subsequent remand of renowned Human Rights Lawyer and Social Critic, Dele Farotimi in Ado Ekiti prison, Ekiti State, Nigeria, over alleged defamatory publication against, Afe Babalola (SAN) is raising a lot of dust.
Already, the National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Dr. Yunusa Tanko has sent a stern warning, calling for his immediate release or nationwide protests would follow.
Tanko in the statement obtained from Tribune stated, “We unequivocally condemn this nefarious act of abuse of power and demand that the Nigerian Police respect Dele Farotimi’s fundamental human rights as enshrined in section 40 of chapter4 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“We urge the Nigerian authorities to ensure his immediate and unconditional release, guaranteeing that his rights are protected throughout the process.
“Failure to release him immediately”, the statement went on, “we shall invoke our fundamental rights as citizens to engage in a series of public protests across the country to challenge this gross abuse of power and neglect of the people”.
…. is a misuse of Police power, says NBA
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also condemned the arrest, calling it a misuse of police power and a violation of legal principles.
President of NBA, Afam Osigwe emphasized that defamation should be treated as a civil matter, not a criminal one, and called for Farotimi’s immediate release.
Farotimi had previously accused Afe Babalola of corrupting the judiciary, which Babalola denied.
….. Tony Elumelu absolved
UBA Chairman, Tony Elumelu has been cleared of any role in the arrest of one of Nigeria’s leading civil rights activists and supporters of Peter Obi, Comrade Dele Farotomi, reports cshowcasenews.com
According to cshowcasenews.com, a popular Online newspaper, “The exoneration of Elumelu was expressed by the 2023 African Action Congress, AAC Presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore.
“Sowore confirmed that followed his interactions with the commissioner of police in Ekiti State that Dele Farotomi was arrested based on a petition raised by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN.
“The mention of the renowned Businessman and banker in the saga came after Dele Farotomi in a press statement, claimed that he was allegedly confronted with a petition written by the banker’s lawyer when he visited the police station on November 13, 2024 following an invitation.
“Sowore said in a tweet: “I just spoke with Kunle Akinwale, the Commissioner of @PoliceNG Ekiti State Command.
“He admits that they arrested @DeleFarotimi and that he’s being driven from Lagos to Ekiti by road. I told him categorically that this constituted an abuse of @PoliceNG’s powers and that this was a civil case that ought not to have warranted police intervention.
“When he admitted to me that they were driving him from Lagos, I asked him repeatedly,“ Did he kill someone?” He even said he was still under investigation for “cybercrime.”
“This illegal arrest was staged by one of Nigeria’s most senior lawyers, Afe Babalola SAN This is just despicable”, the tweet read
Sowore’s latest tweet put to rest insinuations that Tony Elumelu was involved in the arrest of the popular activist”, said the report.
