Atiku condemns Dele Farotimi’s arrest, demands immediate release

By EMMANUEL KUJE, Abuja –

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of human rights advocate Dele Farotimi.

Alhaji Abubakar in a post via his X handle on Wednesday, described Farotimi’s arrest as a “grim reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship” and called for his immediate and unconditional release.

Farotimi was arrested and detained by the police on allegations of defamation, a matter that Abubakar believes should be resolved through civil courts.

He said: “The arrest and detention of lawyer and human rights advocate, @DeleFarotimi, is unequivocally condemned. It serves as a grim reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship when the iron fist of tyranny sought to crush all dissent.

“I am made aware that Dele is being accused of defamation — an offense that, under normal circumstances, should not warrant the involvement of law enforcement. The Police’s intervention in such matters is nothing less than the use of a sledgehammer to swat a fly, an overreach of unimaginable proportions.

Abubakar expressed concern that the Tinubu administration is using the police to intimidate and harass citizens, particularly those who oppose the regime.

He emphasized that freedom of speech and association are fundamental rights enshrined in the Nigerian constitution and should not be suppressed by the state.

According to him, “This alarming trend, particularly the recent abduction — or rather, the arrest — of Dele Farotimi, is emblematic of this administration’s insidious agenda to suffocate the fundamental right to free expression.

“The aim is clear: to intimidate and harass citizens, particularly those who oppose the regime and the press, thus paving the way for the establishment of a one-party state. It is imperative to remind the Tinubu administration that these repeated acts of arrest stand in direct contradiction to the principles of democracy.

Abubakar, who has been a vocal critic of the Tinubu administration, urged the government to respect human rights and the rule of law.

He also shared his personal experience of being defamed in 2019 and how he sought redress through the courts, rather than involving the police.

NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the arrest of Dele Farotimi has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from human rights groups and civil society organizations.