Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has described the detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi as punishment for his unwavering commitment to speaking truth to power.
Farotimi, known for his outspoken advocacy, is currently facing charges in a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, for allegedly defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola.
In a statement on his X account on Tuesday to mark International Human Rights Day, Atiku stated that the detention was unjust and baseless.
According to him, the charges reflect a growing trend of misusing legal tools to silence critics and suppress free speech.
He added that Farotimi is being prosecuted under a law that does not exist in Ekiti State, raising serious concerns about the legal basis of his trial.
The former Vice President also condemned the misuse of the cyberbullying law, which he said has been weaponised to intimidate opposition voices and journalists.
He, however, called on Nigerian leaders to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens, urging them to protect free speech and ensure justice for all.
He tweeted, “@DeleFarotimi, a lawyer and tireless advocate for human rights, now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed “crime” of persistently speaking truth to power. His only offense lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden.
“More troubling still is the fact that he is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State. His plight serves as a poignant reflection of the pervasive climate of impunity and the blatant violation of citizens’ rights that has become all too common in Nigeria. Yet, perhaps the most alarming of all is the weaponization of the cyberbullying law, which is being used as a tool to harass, intimidate, and silence dissenting voices in the opposition and the press.
“On this solemn occasion of International Human Rights Day, let us take a moment to remind our leaders at every level of government to honour the oaths they have sworn to protect and uphold the constitutionally enshrined rights of the people. Only through this commitment can we hope to nurture and strengthen our democracy.”
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