“There is pressure from international writers, human rights groups and Nigerians in the diaspora calling the King’s College,” he explained.
Established in 2023, the Afe Babalola Centre enables King’s College London and its network of partners to provide young Africans with access to education and opportunities which they would otherwise not have.
The media had on Wednesday reported that the Amnesty International, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Farotimi, detained by the Nigeria Police Force in Ekiti State.
Amnesty International had said that in the Nigerian police custody, there is little hope of fair treatment and no transparency, adding that the police interrogation centers across the country are also notorious locations of possible violations.
The global human rights organisation had warned that the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government must end the escalation of clampdown on dissenting voices in the country and allow everyone in the country to freely exercise their fundamental rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution and international law.
In a short statement issued on its social media account, Amnesty International had said, “Dele Farotimi must be immediately and unconditionally released. In custody of Nigeria Police, there is little hope of fair treatment and no transparency.
“Police Interrogation centers are also notorious locations of possible violations.
“President Bola Tinubu’s government must end this escalating clampdown on dissenting voices and allow everyone in the country to freely exercise their human rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution and international law.”
It was also reported that the Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti denied bail to Farotimi, who is facing allegations of cybercrime.
Farotimi was arrested following a petition by a legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
The charge suit no: MAD/1,476.C/2024, pits the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police as the complainant against Farotimi as the defendant.
Some of the charges had read, “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you stated at page IX of the book: “That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients” which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace knowing or having reason to believe that the Statements is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of Criminal Code Act.
That you made statement you knew were false allegations and likely to injure the reputation of the said Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb, LL.D by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage him in his profession and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Act.
“That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally defamed the person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb in pages 10-11 of the said book.”
The court also denied bail to Farotimi and adjourned till December 10, 2024.
Leave a Reply