The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned Human Rights Advocate, and Activist, Dele Farotimi before a Magistrate Court in Ekiti State.
News360 Info reports that Farotimi was apprehended in Lagos on Tuesday by police operatives from the Ekiti State command and was subsequently brought to court at approximately 10:25 AM on Wednesday.
The legal practitioner faces prosecution on 16 counts related to defamation of character against a prominent legal figure and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola SAN.
He allegedly tarnished and defamed Afe Babalola’s character in his recently released book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.
Meanwhile, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of harassing citizens and opposing voices, including Dele Farotimi, to create a one-party-state.
Atiku said the arrest of the human rights lawyer, Farotimi, was a reminder of the days of military dictatorship.
In a statement on Wednesday, Atiku stated that the use of police to abduct Farotimi in an alleged defamation case was an abuse of power.
“The arrest and detention of lawyer and human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi, is unequivocally condemned. It serves as a grim reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship when the iron fist of tyranny sought to crush all dissent.
“I am made aware that Dele is being accused of defamation — an offense that, under normal circumstances, should not warrant the involvement of law enforcement. The Police’s intervention in such matters is nothing less than the use of a sledgehammer to swat a fly, an overreach of unimaginable proportions,” Atiku said.
The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told President Tinubu that continued arrests of dissenting voices by his administration undermine the principles of democracy.
