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A former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the African Union of Journalists (AUJ), Comrade Lanre Ogundipe, has faulted the Nigeria Police Force over the arrest and detention of popular Human Rights Advocate, Dele Farotimi.
The police confirmed Farotimi’s arrest on Tuesday, accusing him of defamation of character.
Reacting to the claims, Ogundipe stated that defamation is no longer regarded as a criminal offence in Lagos State.
According to him, such matters can be addressed without resorting to intimidation of the individuals or parties involved.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday morning, Ogundipe affirmed that defamation was decriminalized in Lagos in 2011.
He said: “With this breach, I hereby demand for an unconditional release of Mr. Farotimi without further delay from the police custody.
“It is unjust,t and it is against the principle of natural justice for the Nigeria Police to invade and arrest human right activist – Dele Farotimi on a mere defamatory allegation that has not been proved.
“Defamation is no longer a classified criminal law; the issue can be resolved without necessarily intimidating the other party with unnecessary show of power by invading his office to effect his arrest.
“The police action on Dele Farotimi is oppressive and a misuse of power, and it constitutes a breach of the lawyer’s fundamental rights.
“Defamation is no longer a criminal offence in Lagos state. The law has since been decriminalised in Lagos in 2011.
“The Police legal department failed in its duty to do a thorough job of advising its operational agents on the position of law in the state to stave off Dele’s arrest.
“With this breach, I hereby demand for an unconditional release of Mr Farotimi without further delay from police custody.”
