Court Remands Rights Activist, Farotimi Over Defamation.

Court Remands Rights Activist, Farotimi Over Defamation.

By Fly Cable News reports

An Ekiti State Chief Magistrates Court, Ado Ekiti Division ordered the remand of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, in the state’s correctional centre.

Farotimi was arraigned in court today over alleged defamation of character following his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged, among others, that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, 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.

Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Monday by policemen from Ekiti State and whisked to Ado Ekiti following which he was arraigned today.

His arrest has however sparked outrage from prominent citizens such as Former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar who strongly condemned the arrest of Dele Farotimi.

In a statement, Atiku described the incident as a disturbing reminder of Nigeria’s oppressive military dictatorship era, criticising the use of state forces to suppress dissent and limit free expression.

Meanwhile, The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has demanded the immediate release of the human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, by the Nigerian Police Force, NPF.

The NBA, which is the umbrella body of legal practitioners in the country, in a statement that was signed by its president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said it was deeply concerned that Farotimi was arrested over alleged libel.

The NBA maintained that Farotimi’s arrest was not only in clear violation of legal principles but an affront to the rule of law.