Rita Odafe
Dele Farotimi, a human rights attorney, has been taken into custody by the Nigerian Police.
His arrest was executed at the Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos due to a defamation complaint lodged by Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group.
This incident occurs during a time of heightened tensions, as Farotimi had previously expressed fear for his safety, reportedly due to threats from powerful individuals within Nigeria’s elite network, allegedly in conjunction with law enforcement and legal entities.
In a statement titled “They Want to Silence Me,” Farotimi shared that he was summoned to report to the Zone 2 Command on November 13, 2024.
Upon arriving, he was confronted with allegations claiming he made defamatory remarks about Elumelu.
Farotimi dismissed these claims as unfounded but formally addressed the accusations during his police station visit.
The arrest has prompted broad dissent, particularly from activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, who utilized his X (formerly Twitter) platform to advocate for Farotimi’s swift release.
Sowore stated: “I just learned that Dele Farotimi was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force over a petition by Tony Elumelu of UBA Group alleging Dele defamed him.
“It is essential for the Nigerian police to understand that the institution should not be used for personal vendettas, and we, as Nigerian citizens, will no longer accept such actions.
“Thus, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are urged to release Barrister Farotimi immediately.”
