Atiku says: “Dele Farotimi now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed ‘crime’ of persistently speaking truth to power.”
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has decried the detention of human rights lawyer and advocate, Dele Farotimi, as a glaring example of the pervasive climate of impunity and rights violations in the country.
Atiku made the remarks in a statement commemorating International Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10 as posted on its X platform on Tuesday.
Farotimi, a vocal critic of government policies and an advocate for justice and transparency, is currently in prison custody in Ekiti State.
According to Atiku, Farotimi’s detention underscores a worrying trend of suppressing dissent and using questionable legal tactics to silence opposition voices.
“Dele Farotimi now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed ‘crime’ of persistently speaking truth to power.
“His only offense lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden,” Atiku stated.
Atiku further criticised the legal basis for Farotimi’s detention, revealing that the lawyer is being prosecuted under a law that does not exist in Ekiti State.
He described the situation as a grave injustice and a violation of constitutional rights.
“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.
Atiku also raised concerns about the misuse of the cyberbullying law, which he said has been weaponised to target dissenting voices, including those in the opposition and the press.
“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,” Atiku said.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, Atiku called on 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,” Atiku urged.
Dele Farotimi’s plight has drawn widespread 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.
