Protest Organisers Gives Update On Ekiti Rally For Farotimi After Police Warnings

Organizers of the planned protest against the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi have pledged to proceed with their demonstrations despite a warning from the Ekiti State Police.

The Take It Back Movement, which is leading the protests, intends to stage rallies in multiple locations, including Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, London, and Canada.

This announcement comes in defiance of a directive issued by the Ekiti State Police Command, which has banned all unlawful gatherings, protests, and the sale or use of fireworks, citing concerns about public safety and security risks.

A statement from police spokesperson Abutu Sunday, issued on Friday, stressed that any form of “unlawful gathering, demonstration, or protest” would not be tolerated.

Read Also: Prove Your Allegations Against Me – Afe Babalola Challenges Farotimi

The police also referenced intelligence reports suggesting that some individuals might attempt to exploit protests to incite violence and create panic.

Nonetheless, the Take It Back Movement has insisted the protests will go ahead, as indicated by a flyer shared on its official X account on Sunday.

The flyer, titled Nationwide/Global Protest Against the Nigerian Judiciary, called on Nigerians to “refuse to be silenced” and emphasized the protest’s global nature.

According to the flyer, the rally is set to take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti, alongside other locations such as Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Toronto, and London.

A promotional video posted by the movement featured activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, who declared: “An unjust act of oppression cannot stand, no matter how ‘well presented’ it was done under the colour of law!

On December 10, 2024, in Lagos, Abuja, Ado-Ekiti, Benin City, Toronto, and the city of London, the people intoxicated by power will be confronted by the power of the people!”

This development follows the arrest of Farotimi in Lagos earlier this week.

The human rights lawyer was accused of defaming prominent lawyer Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, claimed that Farotimi had sought to tarnish his reputation, prompting him to petition the police.

The police subsequently arrested Farotimi and brought him before an Ekiti State Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, where he faced charges of defamation.

Although Farotimi’s lawyer requested bail, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordered his remand in custody and adjourned the case until December 10, 2024.

In addition to the defamation charges, the police have filed new cybercrime charges against Farotimi at a federal high court in Ado Ekiti, linked to online interviews he gave, including one on Seun Okinbaloye’s Mic On Podcast, where he accused Babalola of corruption within the judiciary.