“Whether it’s the police that have to be sued, whether it’s the magistrate who sent me to prison, whether it’s the persons who wrote the petition, whether it’s whoever, but somebody would explain,” he stated.
Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has announced plans to sue authorities involved in his December 2024 arrest and 21-day detention over defamation allegations filed by senior advocate Afe Babalola. Though Babalola withdrew the criminal complaint, Farotimi insists on accountability for what he calls the weaponization of state power.
Arrest and Detention
Farotimi was arrested by Lagos police and transferred to Ekiti State, where a magistrate court ordered his remand over critical comments in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. The case collapsed after Babalola’s withdrawal, but Farotimi maintains his detention was unlawful.
Demanding Accountability
On Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Farotimi stated: “You can be certain of one thing: some people will account for my incarceration… That is something for the courts to decide.” He confirmed civil suits are pending, adding: “I will certainly be demanding an account from those who sent me to prison.”
When pressed on targets, Farotimi said his lawyers would determine whether to pursue action against the police, magistrate, or petitioners. “Whether it’s the police… the magistrate… or whoever, somebody would explain,” he emphasized.