NIGERIA: Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, reportedly arrested over Tony Elumelu’s petition
By OUR REPORTER
Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi has been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force.
According to reports, he was arrested for alleged defamation of Tony Elumelu, Chairman of the UBA Group.
It was learnt as at the time of filing this report Tuesday afternoon that he was being driven to Ekiti from Lagos State where he was arrested.
Farotimi’s arrest was revealed by the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his X handle on Tuesday.
Sowore called for the lawyer’s immediate release, emphasising that the police should not be used to settle personal disputes.
Sowore wrote, “It is pertinent that the Nigerian police are notified that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores, and we, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation.
“Therefore, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Dele Farotimi immediately.”
Police spokesperson at the Zone 2 Command, SP Ummar Ayuba, reportedly refuted the arrest claim.
The spokesperson simply said, “We did not make any arrest. He is not in our custody.”
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr. Adeniran Akinwale, said that the lawyer was arrested for various alleged offences.
The commissioner said that the offences committed included “defamation of character, cyberstalking, and other things. But those two are fully established.
“That was why we have been looking for him before we were able to arrest him.
“We are investigating him. If the suspect is arrested, we will bring him for investigation. We will conduct our investigation and will be able to know his level of culpability or otherwise.”
