The Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, has called for the immediate release of civil rights activist and legal practitioner, Dele Farotimi, who was recently arrested and detained in connection with an alleged defamation case involving legal icon Aare Afe Babalola.
In a statement issued on Thursday, signed by Afenifere’s Deputy Leader, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, and the National Publicity Secretary, Prince Justice Faloye, the group condemned the actions of the police and the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, which, according to them, are influenced by extraneous factors beyond the legalities of the case.
Afenifere pointed out that libel is a bailable offence under Nigerian law, making it unjustifiable for Farotimi to have been denied bail.
They also criticized the decision to try the case in Ekiti State, despite the alleged offence — the publication of a book titled Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System — taking place in Lagos.
According to Afenifere, the venue of the trial, Ado-Ekiti, seems to have been chosen arbitrarily, with the charge stating that the book was “received and read all over the world,” which they deemed a laughable argument to justify the jurisdiction.
The statement read: “The proceedings at the Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court yesterday, wherein Dele Farotimi was, despite the application of his counsel, denied bail and ordered to be remanded at the Correctional Centre, only confirmed the fears of well-meaning people that these actions are driven by considerations outside the facts and laws of the case.”
Afenifere also expressed concern about the possible negative implications for Afe Babalola, whom they regard as an important figure in the fight for true federalism and restructuring in Nigeria.
The group stated that it would be unfortunate for Babalola’s name to be associated with a case that many perceive as politically motivated, particularly with allegations of judicial overreach.
The group reiterated that the matter should be handled in civil courts, where defamation claims can be properly adjudicated, rather than through criminal proceedings.
They also called on the police to allow the judicial process to unfold without undue interference, urging that the focus should remain on due process and constitutional rights.
Farotimi, who pleaded not guilty to the sixteen charges levelled against him, remains in custody, with his trial adjourned until December 10, 2024.