Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the detention of human rights lawyer and advocate, Dele Farotimi, stating that he is suffering in prison for speaking out against those in power.
Farotimi is facing prosecution in a chief magistrate’s court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, for allegedly defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola.
In a post on X marking International Human Rights Day, Abubakar described the lawyer’s arrest as a clear example of the widespread climate of impunity and human rights abuses in the country.
“Dele Farotimi now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed ‘crime’ of persistently speaking truth to power,” the statement read.
“His only offense lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden,” Atiku stated.
He criticized the circumstances surrounding Farotimi’s detention, emphasizing that the prosecution is based on a cyberbullying law that does not exist in Ekiti State.
For Atiku, this situation represents a serious injustice and a breach of constitutional rights.
The former vice president also expressed concerns about the abuse of the cyberbullying law, claiming it has been weaponized to silence opposing voices, including those from the opposition and the media.
“This is troubling. He is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State. This reflects the impunity that has become all too common in Nigeria,” he added.
“The weaponization of the cyberbullying law to harass, intimidate, and silence opposition voices and journalists is alarming. It is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and the principles of democracy,” he stated.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain also urged Nigerian leaders at all levels of government to recommit to their constitutional oaths to protect the rights of citizens. He stressed that only through such a commitment can the country’s democracy thrive.
“Let us remind our leaders that the protection and upholding of constitutionally enshrined rights are fundamental to nurturing and strengthening our democracy. This commitment must not waver,” he stated.
Dele Farotimi’s ordeal has attracted condemnation from human rights advocates and civil society groups, who see his case as emblematic of the challenges facing Nigeria’s democracy and rule of law.