Dele Farotimi, a prominent human rights lawyer, has been arrested by officers from the Zone 2 Command in Lagos following a defamation complaint filed against him.
Sources indicate that the petition accuses Farotimi of making defamatory statements about the complainant in a public setting. This development follows earlier concerns raised by Farotimi, who had claimed he was facing threats to his life, accusing Nigerian elites of collaborating with security forces and legal practitioners to intimidate him.
In a statement titled “They Want to Silence Me”, Farotimi recounted being invited by the police on November 11 to appear at the Zone 2 Command on November 13 at 10:00 AM. Farotimi, accompanied by his legal team, arrived at the station at 9:45 AM on the designated date.
“At the station, I was handed a petition filed by a lawyer, accusing me of defamation,” Farotimi said. “While I believe the petition lacks merit, I addressed its claims.”
The arrest has drawn criticism, with renowned human rights activist Omoyele Sowore calling for Farotimi’s immediate release. In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Sowore criticized the police for allegedly using their position to settle personal scores.
“It is crucial that the Nigerian Police are reminded that they should not be used as tools for personal grudges,” Sowore stated. “The citizens of Nigeria will no longer tolerate this misuse of power. I demand that the Police at Zone 2 in Lagos release Barrister Farotimi immediately.”
The arrest has raised alarm among rights organizations, who fear it may be part of a broader pattern of efforts to silence outspoken critics of the government.
