The Nigerian Police Force have arrested controversial Nigerian Human Rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) gathered that Farotimi was arrested on Tuesday following a petition by the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, who is also the founder of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu who alleged that the human rights advocate defamed him.
A former presidential candidate and popular activist, Omoyele Sowore, hinted about Farotimi’s arrest in a post via his official X handle on Tuesday.
He 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. 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.”
Before his arrest, the activist during a press conference held on Monday had called out operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, for devising a scheme to abduct him from Lagos.
He further accused the Police of employing dubious tactics to entice him into an arrest despite his compliance with an invitation from the Zone 2 police headquarters in Lagos.
According to the public affairs analyst, the police are responding to a petition purportedly submitted by Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
“On Monday, the 11th of November 2024, I was informed that an invitation letter from Zone 2 police command was delivered to my office,” he said.
“The letter requested that I report to the station on Wednesday, the 13th of November 2024, at 10:00 AM.
“Accompanied by my legal counsel, I arrived at the station at 9:45 AM on the stated date.
“At the station, I was presented with a petition written by a lawyer on behalf of Mr. Tony Elumelu, accusing me of defamation.