Police Arrest Dele Farotimi Over Defamation Petition by Tony Elumelu: Sowore Calls for Immediate Release
The Nigerian Police on Tuesday detained lawyer and political activist Dele Farotimi following a defamation petition filed by Tony Elumelu, Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group.
Pro-democracy campaigner and 2023 African Action Congress presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore revealed Mr. Farotimi’s arrest in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday.
PulseNets learned from Mr. Sowore’s post that he stated, “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.”
Mr. Sowore further told PulseNets, “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.”
PulseNets reported that the arrest followed Mr. Farotimi’s prior warning that the police were allegedly plotting to lure and abduct him over Mr. Elumelu’s petition despite his compliance with their invitation.
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Additionally, Mr. Farotimi alleged that prominent lawyer Afe Babalola was involved in mobilizing the police to have him detained and transported to Ekiti State for trial.
