The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi, has kicked against the arrest of lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi was picked up by men of the Nigeria Police Force from Zone 2 Command in Lagos, following a defamation petition filed by Tony Elumelu, the chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group.
A day before the incident, Farotimi had raised concerns over alleged threats to his life by influential figures within Nigerian political circles.
In a long tweet, Obi described his arrest as “a gross misuse of police power” and “a grave assault on the principles of democracy and justice.”
He advised those who believe they have been defamed to seek redress in the court of law.
Obi has now called for Farotimi’s immediate release from police custody.
He wrote on X: “I just learned of the arrest of @DeleFarotimi, a respected human rights lawyer and advocate, over an allegation of defamation.
“This action is a gross misuse of police powers and a grave assault on the principles of democracy and justice in Nigeria.
“I condemn this action in totality. It represents not only an attempt to intimidate opposing voices from questioning authority.
“It is also a worrying signal to every Nigerian who loves and values freedom of expression and dares to demand accountability and transparency.
“The Nigeria Police Force exists to protect the rights of citizens, not to suppress them.
“Defamation, by its nature, is a civil matter that should be addressed in court through due legal process in line with the dictates of the rule of law in a democracy.
“As a private citizen, former governor, and even today, I am frequently defamed, insulted, and lied about and against. Yet, I have never resorted to using the Nigerian police or filing reports to silence others.
“Those who feel otherwise should seek redress through the proper legal channels, not by weaponizing the police or abusing their access to authority or state power.
“The resort to police action, in this case, reeks of abuse of power and raises serious concerns about the independence and professionalism of the police as a civil force.
“I hereby request that Dele Farotimi be released immediately and unconditionally. The police must recognize that their allegiance is to the Constitution and the people of Nigeria, not to narrow interests at the behest of those in power.”
