Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Farotimi declared his intention to seek redress in court, stating that his unlawful incarceration would not go unchallenged.
Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has vowed to pursue legal action against those responsible for his arrest and detention over a now-withdrawn defamation case filed by renowned legal icon Afe Babalola (SAN).
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Farotimi declared his intention to seek redress in court, stating that his unlawful incarceration would not go unchallenged.
Farotimi was arrested by the police in Lagos in December and transferred to Ekiti State, where he was charged with criminal defamation over his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,’ which Babalola claimed contained defamatory material about him.
He was subsequently remanded for 21 days by an Ekiti Magistrate Court.
Although Babalola later withdrew the case, following appeals from prominent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Matthew Kukah, and mediation by traditional rulers, Farotimi has insisted that the withdrawal does not mark the end of the matter.
“Let me continue to reassert that I was always at peace,” he said.
“But when it comes to demanding an account of those who have perverted the powers of the state in pursuit of a private cause, you can be certain of one thing: some people will account for my incarceration.”
He added, “Even though the criminal suit has been withdrawn, the civil suits are there… You can take it to the bank: I will certainly be demanding an account from those who sent me to prison.”
Farotimi said his legal team would determine the appropriate parties when asked who he plans to sue.
“Whether it’s the police that have to be sued, whether it’s the magistrate who sent me to prison, whether it’s the persons who wrote the petition — somebody will explain,” he said.
Farotimi also clarified that he was not involved in efforts to broker peace. “I did not ask anyone to intervene in the matter. I was not consulted before the traditional rulers and others’ visit to Babalola.”
On December 3, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that Farotimi had been taken to Ekiti State by the police officers who arrested him, following a raid on his residence in Lagos State.
It was gathered that the arrest, conducted based on a petition by Babalola, followed allegations of cybercrime.
Nigerian human rights activist Omoyele Sowore, 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), condemned the arrest and described it as illegal.
Leave a Reply