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President Bola Tinubu’s administration may be faced with a third protest in a year from Nigerians, over the arrest of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
Naija News reported that Farotimi was on Tuesday arrested by Ekiti State Police Command over alleged defamation of Afe Babalola in his published book ‘ Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.
Farotimi’s arrest was condemned by human rights organizations, activists and opposition politicians.
The former presidential candidate of the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar respectively, condemned what they described as Police’s misuse of power on a civil matter.
According to human rights lawyer, Effiong Inibehe, Farotimi was denied bail during trial on Wednesday, by a Magistrate Court in Ekiti.
Inibehe decried that defamation is a bailable offense, arguing that Farotimi as a lawyer should have been granted bail on self-recognition. He further argued that he may not get justice in Ekiti State
“The refusal of the trial Magistrate to admit Dele Farotimi to bail today (Wednesday) has aggravated the fears of those who are worried about him getting a fair trial in Ekiti State.
“A Magistrate Court is a court of summary jurisdiction. The practice is that once a defendant is arraigned before a Magistrate, oral application for bail is usually made and bail should be granted to the defendant either on his or her self-recognizance or on such terms and conditions as the court may deem just.
“It is questionable that in this case, instead of admitting the defendant to bail after an application was made by his counsel, the Magistrate decided to adjourn the matter to 10th December, 2024 and insisted on a formal (written) application.
“What is the basis for insisting on a formal application for bail in a case of defamation, particularly given that the defendant is a legal practitioner?” Inibehe said.
Meanwhile, the former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has called for a protest to demand the unconditional release of the human rights lawyer.
In a brief announcement on his X handle, Sowore said the protest would take place on 10th December. The human rights activist emphasized that injustice anywhere remains a threat to justice everywhere.
“Nigerians refuse to be silenced. DATE- 10th, December 2024 Locations: Lagos- Afe Babalola Chambers Abuja- Federal Ministry of Justice Ekiti- Police Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti London- Kings’ College Campus Let’s make it happen ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’,” Sowore announced.
