The Nigerian Police has not commented on the alleged arrest of Human Rights lawyer Dele Farotimi in Lagos State on Tuesday, which was reportedly over defamation charges allegedly made by UBA Group owner Tony Elumelu.
The family of Mr Farotimi, whose whereabouts have remained unknown, spoke with Omoyele Sowore and revealed that the police raided his home, abducted him, and seized the mobile devices of everyone present.
“I have just spoken to the family of Dele Farotimi, and they stated his whereabouts are unknown to them since a contingent of Police officers raided his home and abducted him earlier today from Lagos after seizing mobilize devices of everyone present; they raised suspicion that his current ordeal might have been as a result of efforts by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN who had laid siege on him since last week, tracking his every move using Police from Ekiti Command.
“Last week, Dele Farotimi said he was invited twice to answer petitions written against him by UBAGroup owner Tony O Elumelu at the Zone 2 police formation in Lagos.
“Today his location is unknown and the Nigeria police is yet to reveal what happened to him.”
Condemning the abduction, Sowore pointed out that it is an abuse of power and repression of citizens’ right to freedom of speech by the Police.
“Lets reiterate that it is despicable on the part of @PoliceNG to engage in abuse and repression of citizens freely expressing themselves. #FreeDeleFarotimi NOW!”
Another Human Rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, mentioned that the arrest of Mr Farotimi was not unrelated to a defamation petition written by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, because of the content of his recently published book titled NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
“I have been in contact with Dele Farotimi in the last few days.
“During the course of our last conversation over the weekend, he updated me on efforts by the Police to arrest him in respect of a petition which he said has been written against him by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN.
The petition is said to contain allegation of defamation of character.
“According to Comrade Farotimi, Chief Afe Babalola SAN is coming after him because of the contents a his recently published book titled: NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
“In the book, he narrated his experiences with the justice system in Nigeria, including his personal experience in a case he was involved in some years ago involving the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
“Based on what he told me, very highly placed individuals in government have shown sinister interest in the case and are trying to deal with him.
“His immediate family has no access to him at this time and does not know where he has been taken to.
“I call on the Nigeria Police Force to grant him access to his family and his lawyers and release Mr Dele Farotimi immediately.
“The use of the police to pursue private interest is unacceptable.”
Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, other civil rights groups and Nigerians have called for the immediate release of Mr Farotimi.
