By Emmanuel Ogbodo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, have strongly condemned the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, by the police.
Farotimi, detained on Monday and arraigned in Ekiti State, faces 16 charges, including defamation and cyberbullying, linked to allegations in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
The book claims that senior lawyer Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) compromised the Supreme Court. Farotimi pleaded not guilty during his court appearance on Wednesday.
Despite his lawyer Temidayo Akeredolu’s appeal for bail, citing Farotimi’s health and professional standing, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordered his remand at the Ado Ekiti Correctional Centre.
The bail hearing is set for December 10, 2024.
Atiku condemned the arrest, describing it as a return to oppressive tactics reminiscent of military rule.
“This is a gross abuse of power and a reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship when dissent was silenced with tyranny,” he said, adding that defamation is a civil matter that does not warrant criminal charges.
Afenifere also expressed outrage, with its General Secretary, Chief Sola Ebiseni, stating that the court should have granted bail considering the bailable nature of the charges.
“Denying bail for a bailable offence like defamation is a clear miscarriage of justice,” Ebiseni remarked, urging that Farotimi’s health and status should have been grounds for bail on liberal terms or self-recognizance.
Farotimi’s lawyer argued that the charges, which include accusations of undermining the Supreme Court’s integrity, are baseless and pose no threat to national security.
The case has drawn widespread criticism, raising concerns about free speech and the misuse of the legal system to suppress dissent.