Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has demanded an immediate end to what it terms the ‘unjust’ prosecution of human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, for alleged defamation of legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola.
The group which made the demand during a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, said the Nigeria Police Force should redeem its battered image and integrity by promptly ending the prosecution of Farotimi, whose trial is not supported by the law.
Addressing journalists during the press briefing, the Deputy Leader of Afenifere, Oba Oladipo Olaitan, said the events leading to Farotimi’s arrest and the prolonged delay in granting bail has raised suspicions that external influences, rather than legal considerations, were driving the case.
“You will recall that on December 10, the Ekiti State Magistrate Court adjourned Farotimi’s criminal defamation case until December 20, 2024, to hear the bail application,” Olaitan said.
“The Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered his remand in the correctional centre. The delay in granting bail has confirmed fears that this process is being driven by extraneous factors outside the law and facts of the case,” Olaitan noted.
“While the onus of proof is on the prosecution, and Farotimi remains presumed innocent by law, Afenifere calls on the police to end this unjust prosecution.
“Even as the burden of proof of the charge against Mr. Farotimi is on the prosecution and as the accused person is presumed innocent by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) Afenifere charges the police to redeem its integrity by promptly terminating its prosecution of a matter for which the law does not empower it.
“The delay in granting bail to Mr. Farotimi has confirmed the fears of well-meaning people all over the world that these processes are driven by extraneous considerations outside the facts and laws in respect of the petition on which the police and the Chief Magistrate in Ekiti are hinging their actions.
“Afenifere, therefore, calls for the immediate unconditional release of Mr. Farotimi and for the investigation of the circumstances surrounding his abduction and travails in the hands of his abductors.
“This practice of arresting individuals in one state and transporting them without proper logging or informing their families is deeply concerning.
“It causes unnecessary emotional distress for the arrested person and their relatives, who are often left unaware of the individual’s whereabouts for extended periods.
“Critical questions have been raised about the integrity of the police operation and the motivations behind it.
“The increasing practice of arresting people in a state and transporting (rendering) them out of state often without the knowledge of the relatives of those arrested and also charged in a state other than the state of normal residence of the suspect need to be stopped.
“The practice exerts undue mental agony and expense on the accused person and their families who are often left wondering for hours or days about the safety and whereabouts of their loved ones.
“The police must stop this practice. It is a loophole that can be exploited by criminals who may be tempted to disguise their crimes by acting out their nefarious activities by imitating the rogue police operations.
“Anyone arrested must know the authority undertaking the arrest, why and if to be taken out of a state must be logged at a police station nearest the suspect’s residence or office.
“Respecting the accused’s right of presumption of innocence, the person arrested must be treated with dignity and must be allowed to contact his relations or lawyer to inform them of his whereabouts. Nothing short is required of a civilized country by its citizens.
“We must note that the overzealouness with which some of the parties have acted and the errors of judgement committed by them in this case could validate Farotimi’s portrayal of the justice system.
“Afenifere believes that Chieg Afe Babalola, like every citizen, has a right to defend his reputation if injured to the full extent of the law but not outside the strictures of the law. Therefore, Dele Farotimi must have his day in court. He cannot be unjustly incarcerated. His rights must be similarly protected.”
