Key points
- Omoyele Sowore calls for Dele Farotimi’s immediate release.
- Police spokesperson denies arrest, contradicting earlier reports.
- Ekiti police confirm Farotimi’s arrest on defamation and cyberstalking charges.
According to reports, Dele Farotimi, a well-known legal advocate who is recognised for his activism, was arrested by Nigerian Police Force agents.
Omoyele Sowore reveals Dele Farotimi’s arrest on social media
African Action Congress (AAC) leader and 2023 presidential contender Omoyele Sowore first revealed the detention on Tuesday in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account. Sowore, who has been outspoken about human rights concerns in Nigeria, called for the police to stop abusing their power for personal grievances and urged Farotimi’s immediate release.
“It is important that the Nigerian police are reminded that they cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores,” Sowore said in the article. “Nigerian citizens will no longer put up with such behaviour. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that Barrister Dele Farotimi be released right away by the police in Zone 2 in Lagos.”
Nigerian social media users swiftly took notice of Sowore’s message, and many of them backed the demand for Farotimi’s release. The attorney’s efforts on numerous human rights cases, especially his vocal criticism of the Nigerian government, have earned him recognition.
However, SP Ummar Ayuba, a police spokesperson at the Zone 2 Command, refuted the arrest claim when reached by PUNCH Online. “No one was arrested by us. He is not in our custody,” Ayuba said in a brief phone comment, contradicting Sowore’s report.
Ekiti police confirm arrest over defamation and cyberstalking charges
Meanwhile, Adeniran Akinwale, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, acknowledged Farotimi’s arrest in a separate statement to PUNCH Online, but he clarified that it was for a number of alleged offences. Akinwale added that the police had been looking into the lawyer for a while before they were able to capture him. The allegations allegedly include cyberstalking and defamation of character.
“All of the charges have been proven. These are the explanations for why we searched for him before apprehending him,” Akinwale stated. “An investigation is being carried out by us. We will ascertain his degree of involvement, if any, in these accusations after it is finished.”
