- Safiu Kehinde
In the wake of the arrest of human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, fellow colleague, Inibehe Effiong, has disclosed alleged threat by Chief Afe Babalola and other prominent government officials to deal with the lawyer over his recently published book.
Inibehe made this disclosure in a post on X handle on Tuesday.
NPO reported Farotimi’s arrest earlier today which was initially linked to a petition filed against him by the United Bank of Africa (UBA) CEO, Tony Elumelu.
However, human rights activists, Omoyele Sowore, would reveal that Chief Afe Babalola was also on the trail of Farotimi over alleged defamation.
Reacting in the post on his X handle, Inibehe said he was in touch with the human rights lawyer in the last few days.
According to him, Farotimi disclosed that there has been ongoing attempt by the police to arrest him over a petition written against him by Chief Afe Babalola who accused him of defamation of character based on his recently published book title ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
“I have been in contact with Dele Farotimi in the last few days. During the course of our last conversation over the weekend, he updated me on efforts by the police to arrest him in respect of a petition which he said has been written against him by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN.
“The petition is said to contain allegation of defamation of character.
“According to Comrade Farotimi, Chief Afe Babalola SAN is coming after him because of the contents a his recently published book titled: NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
“In the book, he narrated his experiences with the justice system in Nigeria, including his personal experience in a case he was involved in some years ago involving the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.” Inibehe wrote.
He further disclosed that Farotimi is also on the radar of high placed individuals in government due to the publication while calling on the Nigerian Police Force to grant him access to his family and lawyers.
“Based on what he told me, very highly placed individuals in government have shown sinister interest in the case and are trying to deal with him.
“His immediate family has no access to him at this time and does not know where he has been taken to. I call on the Nigeria Police Force to grant him access to his family and his lawyers and release Mr Dele Farotimi immediately.
“The use of the police to pursue private interest is unacceptable. The police is supposed to serve public interest.” Inibehe added.