Atiku Condemns Arrest as Court Remands Farotimi in Prison
Former VP Decries Police Detention as Attack on Democratic Freedoms
In a legal development, a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti has remanded Farotimi in prison over allegations of defamation against Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
The police arrested Farotimi from his Lekki, Lagos office on Tuesday, transporting him to Ekiti State following Babalola’s petition. The complaint stems from Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, which allegedly suggests that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure fraudulent judgments.
Farotimi pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts preferred against him. The trial magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered his remand in the Ado Ekiti correctional centre, mandating him to file a formal bail application.
Prosecutor Samson Otsubu argued for the detention, claiming Farotimi’s co-conspirators remain at large and the published books are still circulating. “To avoid threat to national security, we want the defendant kept at Ado Ekiti correctional center pending investigation,” Otsubu stated.
Farotimi’s defense lawyer, Peter Akeredolu, argued for bail, highlighting that none of the charges constitute a non-bailable offense. Akeredolu emphasized the constitutional presumption of innocence and noted Farotimi’s 25-year legal standing.
However, the magistrate refused to grant bail, stating that insufficient materials had been brought to enable judicial discretion.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of lawyer and human rights advocate Dele Farotimi, describing it as a dangerous move towards suppressing free expression.
Atiku, in his statement, described the arrest as a “grim reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship,” arguing that the action represents an alarming attempt to intimidate citizens who oppose the current administration.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emphasized that freedom of speech and association are constitutional rights, not privileges. He pointed out that legal recourse for defamation should be pursued through courts, not state enforcement mechanisms.
Drawing from personal experience, Atiku noted that when he was defamed in 2019, he chose to seek legal remedies through the judicial system rather than invoking police intervention.
“If anyone feels wronged by defamatory words, they are free to seek redress in the courts, not at the hands of the state’s enforcers,” he stated. “It is an appalling abuse of power to use the Police as a tool for personal vendettas.”
Atiku warned that such actions threaten the fundamental principles of democracy, describing the arrest as part of a broader strategy to establish a one-party state by silencing opposition voices.
The case has been adjourned to December 10th for a bail application hearing, casting a spotlight on the delicate balance between free expression and legal accountability in Nigeria’s judicial system.
