From Christopher Oji
The Ekiti State Police Command has arrested human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, for allegedly defaming the Chairman of a new generation Bank.
It was gathered that Farotimi was traced to Lagos before he was picked and taken to Ekiti State Police Command for interrogation.
Farotimi’s arrest was revealed by the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his X handle yesterday.
Sowore disclosed that the bank chief filed a petition accusing Farotimi of defamation.
Sowore called for the lawyer’s immediate release, emphasising that the police should not be used to settle personal disputes.
Sowore wrote, “I just learned that Dele Farotimi was arrested by the Nigeria Police over a petition by the bank chief alleging that Dele defamed him.
“It is pertinent that the Nigeria 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.”
But in swift reaction, the Zone 2 Police command has denied that its men arrested the humans right lawyer.
The Zonal Police Public Relations Officer (ZPPRO), Zone 2 command, Ayuba Umar, said,” Dele Farotimi is not in our custody. He was arrested by Ekiti State Police Command. You can direct your questions to the command”.