Federal Government Given 48-Hour Ultimatum to Release Detained Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi

The federal government has been given a 48-hour ultimatum to release human rights lawyer Dr. Dele Farotimi, who is currently remanded at a correctional facility in Ekiti State.

The demand was issued by Comrade Timi Frank, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in response to Farotimi’s detention on alleged defamation charges. The charges stem from claims in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he accused Senior Advocate of Nigeria Afe Babalola of influencing the Supreme Court.

In a statement released on Thursday, December 5, Frank condemned the arrest, describing Farotimi as a staunch defender of the rule of law. “Farotimi does not deserve this,” Frank stated. “He is a man who believes in and respects the rule of law.”

Frank further alleged that the detention is part of a larger campaign to silence Farotimi due to his outspoken criticisms of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. According to him, the arrest is not solely about the defamation charge but an attempt to intimidate the activist and suppress dissent.

Warning of mass action if Farotimi is not released within 48 hours, Frank urged Nigerians to “occupy all police stations and formations” in protest. He also criticized the judiciary and police for serving as instruments of oppression under the current administration.

Frank highlighted the broader implications of silencing critics, quoting German Pastor Martin Niemöller to stress the importance of collective action in protecting democracy: “It is Farotimi today; it may be another Nigerian tomorrow.”