The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeniran Akinwale, has defended the arrest of the Lagos-based human rights activist, Dele Farotimi for alleged cyberbullying and defamation.
In an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, Akinwale said the alleged offences committed by Farotimi included “defamation of character, cyberstalking and other things” noting that those two allegations were “fully established.”
He said, “We are investigating him (Farotimi). If the suspect is arrested, we will bring him for investigation. We will conduct our investigation and will be able to know his level of culpability or otherwise.”
Reacting to the arrest in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday, the Director General of the Labour Party presidential campaign council, Akin Osuntokun, condemned how the lawyer was arrested.
He expressed concerns about the alleged involvement of Chief Afe Babalola whom he described as an illustrious personality.
Osuntokun said, “I know Dele Farotimi as a junior I was a bit disturbed about the fact that the police commissioner in Ekiti state would come to Lagos to come and arrest someone about cybercrime which is always a euphemism for whatever grouse the police has. Chief Afe Babalola is an illustrious citizen of Nigeria, his name being attached to what has happened.
“I am sure that Babalola will not get involved in something like this. Something is missing somewhere. The method with which he was apprehended, I won’t know how that is consistent with due process.”
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 elections, Omoyele Sowore, condemned the arrest of Farotimi stressing that the process was undemocratic.
Sowore in a tweet on Tuesday demanded the release of the lawyer while noting that the police should avoid being used to settle personal scores.
He tweeted, “I just spoke with Kunle Akinwale, the Commissioner of @PoliceNG Ekiti State Command. He admits that they arrested @DeleFarotimi and that he’s being driven from Lagos to Ekiti by road.
“I told him categorically that this constituted an abuse of @PoliceNG’s powers and that this was a civil case that ought not to have warranted police intervention. When he admitted to me that they were driving him from Lagos, I asked him repeatedly, “Did he kill someone?”
“He even said he was still under investigation for “cybercrime.” This illegal arrest was staged by one of Nigeria’s most senior lawyers, Afe Babalola SAN. This is just despicable.’
Recall that Farotimi had in a press statement on Monday accused some police operatives suspected to be from Ekiti of planning to arrest him over an issue regarding the content of a book he published.
He also alleged that the police deployed several antics that suggested an attempt to abduct him rather than invite him for questioning on any matter.
The statement read in part, “I must reiterate that I am a law-abiding citizen. I have consistently honoured every lawful invitation by the Nigeria Police Force. However, these recent developments – targeting my associates, tracking my phone, and harassing innocent individuals-are deeply concerning.
“It has therefore become clear, and it is no longer hidden, that there are policemen from the Ekiti State Police Command who are currently working out of Zone 2 Police Station on a mission to abduct me. Now, this leads me to ask a question: if I faithfully attended the police station as invited, why not invite me in the same manner again?
“Assuming there is even a charge, it does not take a lawyer to point out that law enforcement officers going around arresting people connected to me and intimidating them is not the proper way to carry out a lawful arrest. So, I have good reason to be fearful for my life, my liberty, and even the well-being of those around me.”
Sowore had on Tuesday, in a post on his X handle announced the arrest of Farotimi.
Sowore, who disclosed that Elumelu filed a petition accusing Farotimi of defamation, called for the lawyer’s immediate release, emphasising that the police should not be used to settle personal disputes.
Sowore wrote, “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.
“It is pertinent that the Nigerian police are notified that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores, and we, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation.
“Therefore, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Dele Farotimi immediately.”
Meanwhile, the Zone 2 Public Relations Officer, Umma Ayuba, in a telephone conversation with our correspondent on Tuesday, disclosed that contrary to claims that Farotimi was arrested by operatives of the Zone, the human rights lawyer was not in their custody.
She however confirmed that Farotimi was invited about two weeks ago over an allegation and that he honoured the invitation and was since released.
“I have checked our records, he is not in our custody. He was invited about two weeks ago and was released after honouring our invitation,” Ayuba said.
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