RELEASE DELE FAROTIMI NOW.. Ebun Adegboruwa
On December 1, 2024, human rights activist and legal practitioner, Mr Dele Farotimi was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police Force for yet to be disclosed Offences. He has been in police custody ever since.
Mr Farotimi has been very critical of this administration and his current arrest and detention may be interpreted as one of the instances of the intolerance of this administration to opposing views. In a democracy, freedom of expression is guaranteed and sacrosanct.
The Constitution prescribes a maximum period of twenty four hours for the arraignment or release of any citizen arrested in any location where there is a competent court. I urge the police authorities to comply with the provisions of the Constitution in relation to Mr. Dele Farotimi.
If there is any offence alleged against him, he should be granted bail or charged before the appropriate court. It is unacceptable to detain a citizen beyond the period permitted by law.
I call on the arresting authorities to obey the laws of the land and respect the fundamental rights of Mr Dele Farotimi
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN