In a recent tweet, activist Omoyele Sowore condemned the delegation led by former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi for their visit to Chief Afe Babalola, seeking his assistance regarding the unjust detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi was arrested under allegations of defamation, facing 16 charges stemming from claims made in his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.” Sowore criticized the delegation’s actions, likening them to forcing civil rights icon Rosa Parks to return to the back of a bus during the struggle against racial injustice in the United States.
In his tweet, Sowore argued that Obi’s visit to plead with Babalola, a senior advocate who initiated the complaint against Farotimi, undermines the fight against what he termed “judicial criminality” in the country. The activist emphasized that such actions betray the ongoing struggle for justice and accountability within Nigeria’s legal system.
According to the tweet, “I condemn those who went to “beg” Chief Afe Babalola today over the unjust detention and persecution of DeleFarotimi; the delegation led by PeterObi did colossal injustice to the struggle to drain the swamp of judicial criminality in our country; Obi’s action is like forcing Rosa Parks to return to back of the bus of racial injustice during the civil rights era in the US! The struggle continues!”
Dele Farotimi’s arrest has sparked significant debate across social media and among legal experts. Critics argue that his detention is a violation of his rights, particularly since defamation has been decriminalized in Lagos State, where he was arrested. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also voiced concerns over the legality of Farotimi’s arrest, asserting that it contravenes established legal principles.