The Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development condemns the arrest, detention, and illegalities arising during the arrest of Nigerian lawyer and human rights activist Mr. Dele Farotimi in Lagos, Nigeria.
On Tuesday, 3rd December 2024, news broke that prominent Nigerian Lawyer and human rights activist, Dele Farotimi had been abducted from his Lekki Phase 1 office, in what at the time, appeared to be confusing circumstances.
In later developments, it became public knowledge that Dele Farotimi was indeed arrested by armed men of the Nigeria Police from the Ekiti Police Command who travelled across jurisdictions to carry out the arrest, driving Farotimi from Lagos to Ekiti, where he was remanded in prison after being denied court bail. The three-count charge against him revolved around “Defamation of the character of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola” based on publications in his now-famous book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”.
Video footage surfacing later revealed that during the arrest, the men of the Nigeria police also harassed the staff of Mr. Farotimi and left with mobile phones from the office, including the personal telephones of vividly intimidated staff.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Friday, the Help Initiative described the arrest as an unfortunate incident in a country governed by the rule of law.
Reacting to the arrest, Olufunmbi Aina, human rights officer for Help Initiative said, “This nature of brazen illegality has recurred rather too often in the operations of the Nigeria Police and is nothing short of condemnable. It reeks of unprofessionalism and blatant disrespect for the code of conduct of enforcement officers”.
According to the human rights organisation, this shameful display of undemocratic conduct is an assault on democracy and only takes the country back in time to the turbulent era of military dictatorship.
In the statement, Help Initiative maintained that it is not uncommon for individuals or groups to have misgivings or objections to publications in part or whole. However, in a supposedly democratic society governed by the rule of law, such concerns should be addressed appropriately through civil actions in the court of law.
“Moreover, using the police across jurisdictions to harass, intimidate, or carry out unconventional arrests using taxpayers’ money is unacceptable under any circumstance.” Aina said.
The Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development reiterates the demand for the release of Mr. Dele Farotimi and the return of all properties unduly taken from his office while calling on all institutions and authorities concerned to henceforth follow due process in handling any grievances.
Signed,
Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development.