Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has expressed anger after human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, appeared at the Ekiti State High Court in handcuffs.
Henzodaily reports that Farotimi’s arrest followed a defamation lawsuit filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola.
The senior lawyer accused Farotimi of defaming him in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
During his appearance in court on Monday, the Nigeria Police Force escorted Farotimi in handcuffs.
Reacting to the development, Ezekwesili, in a post via X, said the civil matter has morphed into a reason why the citizens cannot trust the judiciary.
Ezekwesili maintained that the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunde-Ojo, must explain the basis for handcuffing Farotimi and take immediate steps to correct the anomaly.
She wrote, “So the gross absurdity of handcuffing @DeleFarotimi was lost on the Prisons Service?
“What crime is the @NigeriaGov @PoliceNG really prosecuting @DeleFarotimi for at this stage because how did a civil matter between Dele Farotimi and Chief Babalola morph into the strongest evidence of why Citizens now sadly lack trust in and believe that our Judiciary is fully captured by Nigeria’s irresponsible political class?
“This reckless desecration of all public institutions under this administration of @officialABAT will not sustain. Never.
“The Minister of Interior- Olubunmi Tunde-Ojo @BTOofficial who is in charge of @CorrectionsNg – The Prisons – has to explain the basis of those handcuffs on Mr Farotimi and immediately take steps to correct repeat of such anomaly by overzealous officers.
“Those pushing this gross violation of Citizen-Farotimi’s constitutional rights should advise themselves now and cease pushing forward the shenanigans playing out on this matter. Enough is Enough!
“Stop assaulting the sensibilities of Nigerians any further. Let the 2 citizens involved in this matter engage the courts using appropriate judicial processes for addressing allegations of Defamation.”