The police on Tuesday arrested a lawyer and political activist, Dele Farotimi, over a defamation petition by the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Group, Tony Elumelu.
Pro-democracy campaigner and African Action Congress presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, disclosed Mr Farotimi’s arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
Mr Sowore wrote, “I just learned that Dele Farotimi was arrested by the Nigerian Police over a petition by Tony Elumelu of UBA Group alleging Dele defamed him.’’
He stated, “It is pertinent that the Nigerian police are notified that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores, and we, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation. Therefore, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Dele Farotimi immediately.”
The arrest followed Mr Farotimi’s published statement in which he raised the alarm over police plotting to lure and abduct him over Mr Elumelu’s petition despite honouring their invitation.
Also, Mr Farotimi alleged that a senior lawyer, Afe Bababola, mobilised the police to arrest and take him to Ekiti State for trial.
