Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was arrested by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) on Monday, December 2, 2024, following a defamation complaint filed by Tony Elumelu, the chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Farotimi was taken into custody by officers from Zone 2 Command in Lagos after a petition was lodged against him by Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, representing Elumelu.
The arrest stems from an ongoing dispute that began when Farotimi raised concerns about threats to his life, which he claimed were orchestrated by Nigerian elites in collaboration with law enforcement and legal practitioners.
In a statement released earlier, Farotimi had detailed a police invitation he received on November 11, 2024, summoning him to the Zone 2 Command on November 13.
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During the meeting, he was presented with a defamation petition but asserted that the accusations against him were unfounded.
In his statement, Farotimi said: “Despite finding the petition baseless, I addressed its content.” His arrest, however, has brewed condemnation from activists and civil society groups across the nation.
Prominent human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, swiftly condemned the action, calling for Farotimi’s immediate release.
Sowore, in a statement on social media, said, “The Nigerian Police must understand that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores. We, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation. Therefore, the Police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Farotimi immediately.”
The arrest has also drawn criticism from the Social and Economic Rights Accountability Project (SERAP), which urged the government to release Farotimi without delay.
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The group expressed concern over the government’s increasing use of criminal defamation laws to silence critics, stating, “Nigerian authorities should not be using criminal defamation laws to turn critics into criminals and undermine freedom of expression.”
Aisha Yesufu, another vocal critic of government actions, expressed her outrage, questioning the role of the police in what she described as an oppressive system.
She wrote, “What the heck is going on? Mr. Dele Farotimi arrested by police and whereabouts unknown? @PoliceNG when will you stop being a weapon of oppression? They want to silence voices #FreeDeleFarotimiNow.”
