Leading political figures Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have condemned the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, describing the move as a gross violation of democratic principles and an abuse of state power.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Mr. Obi called Mr. Farotimi’s arrest “a grave assault on democracy,” accusing the authorities of misusing police powers to stifle dissent.
“I condemn this action in totality. It represents not only an attempt to intimidate opposing voices but also a gross misuse of police powers,” the former Anambra governor said.
He demanded Mr Farotimi’s immediate and unconditional release, urging law enforcement to prioritise allegiance to the constitution and the Nigerian people over narrow interests.
Similarly, Atiku, a former vice president, issued a scathing critique of the arrest, equating it to the oppressive practices of military regimes.
“The detention of Dele Farotimi serves as a grim reminder of the dark days of military dictatorship when the iron fist of tyranny sought to crush all dissent,” he said.
Atilku dismissed the defamation accusations against Mr. Farotimi as a civil matter that should not involve law enforcement.
“The Police’s intervention in such matters is an overreach of unimaginable proportions. Freedom of speech and association are constitutionally enshrined rights,” he asserted.
Mr. Farotimi was arrested following a petition filed by Tony Elumelu, chairman of UBA, accusing him of defamation. Before his detention, Mr Farotimi had disclosed that he voluntarily honoured a police invitation concerning the matter.
Both leaders decried what they described as an alarming trend of using state machinery to intimidate dissenting voices, warning that such actions undermine Nigeria’s democracy.
“It is imperative to remind the Tinubu administration that these repeated acts of arrest stand in direct contradiction to the principles of democracy,” Atiku said.
