Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was arrested by the Nigerian police force following a defamation petition filed by none other than Tony Elumelu, chairman of the United Bank for Africa group.
The allegation? Statement Farotimi allegedly made public that according to Elumelu, tarnished his reputation. Farotimi, known for his bold stance against corruption and advocacy for justice, has called this a targeted attempt to silence his voice. I’ve been playing cops and robbers with some very interesting characters who silencing me.
In a statement titled, ‘They want to silence me’. He detailed how he received an invitation from the Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos earlier this month. On November 13, Farotimi, accompanied by his legal counsel, arrived at the station. There, he was presented with a petition accusing him of defamation.
Despite calling the allegations baseless, he says he addressed the claims head on. The arrest has sparked a wave of reactions. including a strong condemnation from human rights activists, social commentors and public analysts across the Nation. Taken to social media, various netizens criticized the Nigerian police, accusing them of being used to settle personal disputes.
He demanded Farotimi’s immediate and unconditional release, warning that Nigerians will no longer tolerate such misuse of power.
