Prominent human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has reportedly been arrested by the Nigeria Police Force following a petition from Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA Group.
The news was made public on Tuesday by Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and good governance advocate, via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“I just learned that Dele Farotimi was arrested by the Nigerian Police over a petition by Tony Elumelu of UBA Group alleging Dele defamed him,” Sowore shared.
He criticized the police’s actions, stating, “The Nigerian police cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores. We, the citizens of Nigeria, will no longer tolerate such misuse of power.
Therefore, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Dele Farotimi immediately.”
Farotimi, a vocal critic of government policies and a defender of citizens’ rights, had previously hinted at police efforts to detain him.
He disclosed receiving an invitation from the Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos on November 11, instructing him to appear on November 13. Upon reporting, he was confronted with a petition accusing him of defamation, purportedly submitted by a lawyer representing Tony Elumelu.
