Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi was arrested in Lagos State on Tuesday for alleged criminal libel. This arrest has sparked concerns about the misuse of criminal libel charges to silence dissenting voices.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana is demanding Farotimi's unconditional release, citing that Lagos State has decriminalized defamation. Falana's intervention highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting freedom of expression.
Falana referenced a Supreme Court case, Aviomoh v Commissioner of Police & Anor. (2021) LPELR-55203(SC), which confirmed that defamation was decriminalized in Lagos State in 2011 and in Edo State in 2020. This raises questions about the legality of Farotimi's arrest and whether it is an attempt to silence him.
Earlier in the day, Farotimi had expressed concerns about plots to silence him after receiving a police invitation. Upon arriving at the station, he was presented with a petition accusing him of defamation. Despite finding the petition baseless, Farotimi addressed its content. His arrest has sparked outrage and calls for his immediate release.