By Ologeh Joseph Chibu
Nigeria’s foremost Human rights lawyer Mr Femi Falana has called for the release of detained activist, Dele Farotimi.
The activist was arrested in Lagos State.
The Police alleged criminal libel.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Falana made available to Irohinoodua condemned the arrest as illegal.
He demanded Farotimi’s immediate and unconditional release.
Falana said “I just confirmed that Mr. Dele Farotimi was arrested in Lagos today for alleged criminal libel,” Falana said.
He said demanding Farotimi’s unconditional release from illegal custody, he wished to state, without any fear of contradiction, that Lagos State is among the two states in Nigeria that decriminalised defamation in its entirety.
Falana cited the 2021 Supreme Court case Aviomoh v Commissioner of Police & Anor. (2021) LPELR-55203(SC), where Justice Helen Ogunwumiju affirmed that defamation was decriminalized under Lagos State’s 2011 Criminal Law and the Edo State Criminal Law Bill of 2020.
Police authorities have not yet made an official statement regarding the arrest.
Earlier on Tuesday, Farotimi revealed on social media that he had been summoned by the police and accused of defamation based on a petition filed by a lawyer.
“At the station, I was presented with a petition written by a lawyer, accusing me of defamation,” Farotimi wrote. “Despite finding the petition baseless, I addressed its content.”
Farotimi also alleged that the arrest was part of broader efforts to silence him.
