Some Nigerians have expressed anger after human rights
activist, Dele Farotimi, appeared at the Ekiti State High Court in handcuffs.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force had escorted Farotimi to the
court on Monday in handcuffs.
Last week, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos State by officers
of the Ekiti State Police Command.
Farotimi’s arrest followed a defamation lawsuit filed by
Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The 95-year-old senior lawyer accused Farotimi of defaming
him in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
During his appearance in court on Monday, Farotimi was
granted bail under strict conditions.
The court granted the rights activist bail in the sum of N50
million with a surety with the same amount.
Reacting to the Farotimi’s court appearance, activist
lawyer, Deji Adeyanju posted on X: “Shame on everyone involved in this
embarrassment to the legal profession.
“A lawyer in handcuffs over defamation, not armed robbery,
kidnapping or any crime.
“No wonder they abducted Dele Farotimi and took him to where
Baba Afe Babalola is king, Ekiti.”
Another human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, also a
lawyer, said, “Can @CorrectionsNg explain why they had to handcuff
@DeleFarotimi while taking him to the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti this
morning for arraignment?
“This is preposterous. He did not pose any threat, and did
not resist being taken to court.
“Dele Farotimi is a political prisoner and will come out
stronger.”
Also commenting on the development, Rinu Oduala wrote: “Dele
Farotimi is put in handcuffs for an offence that doesn’t even exist in the
laws. Is he a criminal or a political prisoner?
“The Nigeria Government should let us know.
#FreeDeleFarotimiNow.”
A Twitter user, Darey, said: “Afe Babalola put Dele Farotimi
in handcuffs for Defamation which is a CIVIL MATTER. Nigeria and its CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.”
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