Public outcry has intensified following the detention of prominent Nigerian lawyer, activist, and author, Dele Farotimi.
Advocacy groups, civil society organizations, and citizens across the country are demanding his immediate release, describing his continued detention as a violation of fundamental human rights.
Farotimi, known for his outspoken criticism of government policies and advocacy for good governance, was
Farotimi was arraigned in court over alleged defamation of character in his book: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged, among others, that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola had compromised the Supreme Court.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, after listening to the police prosecutor, Samson Osubu who filed a 16-count allegations to which Farotimi pleaded not guilty, adjourned the matter till December 10, 2024.
Agitation for Farotimi’s release has gained traction on social media platforms, with hashtags like #FreeDeleFarotimi, #PressFreedom, and #RepealCyberCrimeAct trending nationwide.
Human rights activists political leaders, and celebrities, have lent their voices to the campaign, urging the government to respect the rule of law.
READ ALSO: Court denies bail to Dele Farotimi adjourns case till December 10
Human rights activist and 2023 presidential candidate of African Action Congress Omoyele Sowore who first reported the arrest of Farotimi, while calling for the immediate release of the popular author threatened to stage a protest.
Sowore, announcing the proposed date of the protest in an X post on Thursday said: “Nationwide/global protest against the judiciary. Nigerians refuse to be SILENCED!
“Let’s make it happen.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Timi Frank gave the Federal and Ekiti State Governments 48 hours to release Farotimi from remand or face mass protests.
Frank called on Nigerians to occupy all police stations and formations in the country should the government fail to release the human rights activist unconstitutionally within the stipulated time beginning from when he was remanded.
The United Kingdom chapter of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-political group, condemned the arrest, labeling it a “watershed moment in the ongoing struggle for justice, accountability, and the rule of law in Nigeria.” The group criticized the operation as a “Gestapo-style raid” that disregarded legal protocols and Mr. Farotimi’s fundamental rights.
Farotimi’s arrest has reignited debates about the state of democracy and human rights in Nigeria. For many, the outcome of this case will serve as a litmus test for the government’s commitment to upholding the principles of justice and freedom.
As the calls for his release grow louder, all eyes remain on the authorities to act swiftly and decisively in addressing the situation.
Credible News.ng
