Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called for the swift and unconditional release of Dele Farotimi, a prominent lawyer and human rights advocate.
Femi Falana, another human rights lawyer, revealed that Farotimi was apprehended in Lagos on Tuesday over allegations of criminal libel.
In a statement issued on Wednesday from Abuja, Abubakar condemned the arrest, characterizing it as unacceptable.
“I understand that Farotimi is facing accusations of defamation—an offense that typically should not involve law enforcement intervention,” he stated. “The police’s involvement in such matters is akin to using a sledgehammer to swat a fly; it represents an alarming overreach.”
Abubakar further criticized the arrest as part of a deliberate strategy to stifle the fundamental right to free speech, which stands in stark opposition to democratic principles.
“The intent is evident: to intimidate and harass citizens, especially those who challenge the government and the media, thus facilitating the emergence of a one-party state,” he asserted.
The 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) emphasized that freedom of expression and association are not privileges but constitutionally guaranteed rights.
