Rights activist Deji Adeyanju has condemned the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, for using the police to intimate, harass and arrest fellow lawyer and human rights activist Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi, a lawyer and public commentator drew the ire of Babalola, who claimed he was defamed in a book titled ‘Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System’
and petitioned the police in a matter body of lawyers and public commentators have said is civil in nature.
The police in Ekiti State had, acting on a petition written by Babalola, arrested Farotimi in Lagos where lawyers and workers in the activist’s chamber were intimidated, harassed and beaten, according to multiple accounts from the law firm.
The police moved Farotimi on Tuesday when he was arrested to Ekiti in a journey of over 352km, to where Babalola lives, a situation Adeyanju said provides the petitioner undue advantage.
The lawyer was hurriedly arraigned before the court on Wednesday following public condemnation. The court rejected a plea for bail. The Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosn, ordered Farotimi be remanded and adjourned the matter to December 10.
Adeyanju, who made the condemnation on Friday during a press conference in Abuja expressed worries that highly placed individuals in the society are misusing the police when in effect the country needs all the police it could get to fight crime.
Adeyanju said “it is unfortunate and regrettable that our revered father and leader in the profession will resort to using the police to harass, intimidate, and arrest a fellow lawyer, someone who is speaking up against the ills in society.
“The police must stop acting as errand boys to big men, influential people, politicians.
“One of our clients, Speer Darlington, has been in custody now for over a week for allegedly defaming and insulting Burna Boy.
“Things like this are clear abuse of power and abuse of office. The whole world has moved away from criminal defamation. These are colonial laws, Nigeria must move away.”
He stressed that “the idea of abducting Farotimi from Lagos and taking him to the turf of Babalola in Ekiti in itself is suspicious. Why was Farotimi not arraigned in Lagos, where he resides and does business?
“Why was the raid on his office? Why was it so violent? Why were lawyers threatened by the police that they would be shot?
“Why was the receptionist slapped and other violations of the fundamental rights of lawyers and non-lawyers alike who were in the firm the day of the arrest? And why this show of force?
“The police officers who are going all over the place, who have been mobilised from state to state to arrest people, are needed in Zamfara.
“There’s a new terrorist group called Lakurawa, the police officers are needed there.
“It is because of the idleness of the police that’s why insecurity festers in the country,” Adeyanju said.
He said, “The time and the resources used to fight ego wars on behalf of powerful, influential and wealthy citizens, that those resources, taxpayers’ money, should not be used in ego wars in pleasing people who feel defamed.
“That taxpayers’ money should be used to fight banditry, to fight insecurity, to arrest dangerous criminals who have committed crimes such as murder, armed robbery, theft, rape, kidnapping. That is what the security agencies should focus on.
“I’m therefore making a passionate appeal that these incessant arrests by security agencies, especially the police, will continue to make the human rights index rating of Nigeria to be extremely very bad.
“The president should give an executive order restraining the police from getting involved in civil disputes such as defamation, landed matters, rent and tenancy issues.
“The Inspector General of police should commit, even without the president giving the executive order, should issue a clear directive to all officers that taxpayers’ money should be saved and that they should focus on fighting crime, that civil issues are not crime per se, and that they should focus simply on issues around crime and crime prevention.
“The Nigerian police and other security agencies like the DSS will have the trust and respect of all Nigerians at home and abroad, and that this will improve the human rights rating of the country.
Adeyanju als condemned the treatment meted out to investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo.
Soyombo was arrested by the army in Rivers State. The army said he was arrested with those carrying out oil bunkering. He was released a few days later.
Adeyanju however frowned at how his arrest was handled alleging his “rights were violated.”
He explained that Soyombo “was working on the activities of illegal bunkers in the Niger Delta, and not only was he arrested, his cover was blown by the military, who he had confided in that this was what he was doing, his cover was blown to the oil bunkers.
“Evidence from preliminary investigation by him suffices to show that the Navy and the Army are complicit in escorting vessels that steal crude oil.
“We have been saying this for years now, that crude oil theft is not possible without the collusion of state actors.
“Just recently, Tompolo himself said that the Navy is complicit, and our country and our economy is battling and struggling,” Adeyanju said.
He emphasised that it is important for the government of President Bola Tinubu “commit to fighting crude oil theft in the country, and that journalists like Fisayo must be protected at all costs, to do their job, to expose corruption, and to do reporting as they so fit without any form of harassment.”
‘Opposition Weak, Not Challenging Poor Govt Policies’
Adeyanju blasted the opposition political parties in the country for failing to interrogate and challenge what he said have been bad policies from the government of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said, “We currently have a bad and a weakened opposition in the country. That is unfortunate and regrettable.
“Today, there appears to be nonexistence of the opposition political party. A situation where key issues, key decisions of government are not being challenged at all by the opposition political parties sends the message that the opposition is completely in bed with the government in power.
“I have said this time and time again, that the only way Nigeria will progress is if we have a viral and credible opposition. The beauty of democracy, what strengthens democracy and the tenets of democracy is when the opposition is up and doing, and it’s our life’s responsibility.
“What we currently have in the PDP and the Labour Party are a compromised opposition.
“The opposition is on trial. The opposition is on trial because the opposition is failing in its constitutional responsibility of holding the government at all levels accountable.
“The government in power borrows loans from time to time, and that there is no resistance in the National Assembly, either by the PDP, Labour Party or NNPP.
“The current opposition in the country is sleeping.
Anybody still attacking Peter Obi, anybody still attacking Atiku at this point, or still attacking leadership of the opposition political parties, will also be complicit.
“The allegations that we have alleged them to be working for the government in power will also be guilty of the same. The idea right now is that the APC government, the Bola Tinubu government should be seen as the common enemy.
“Everyone should be pointing accusing fingers at them.”