Atiku Condemns Detention of Lawyer Dele Farotimi, Calls It Attack on Free Speech
Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the detention of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, calling it a clear example of the growing climate of impunity and rights violations in the country.
Atiku made the remarks in a statement on International Human Rights Day, observed annually on December 10. Farotimi, known for his outspoken criticism of government policies and his advocacy for justice, is currently in prison custody in Ekiti State.
Atiku stressed that Farotimi’s detention was not due to any legitimate crime but rather for speaking out against the government and exposing inconvenient truths. He described Farotimi’s only “offense” as his persistent commitment to holding the government accountable. Atiku also criticized the legal basis for Farotimi’s detention, revealing that the lawyer is being prosecuted under a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State, calling this a grave injustice and violation of constitutional rights.
The former vice president further raised concerns about the misuse of the cyberbullying law, which he claimed has been weaponized to target opposition voices and journalists. Atiku warned that this tactic poses a serious threat to freedom of expression and undermines the principles of democracy. He emphasized that the use of such laws to silence dissent was a troubling development for Nigeria’s democratic future.
On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, Atiku urged Nigerian leaders to recommit to protecting citizens’ constitutional rights, as outlined in the nation’s laws. He called on leaders to honor their oaths to protect these rights, stressing that only through such a commitment can Nigeria’s democracy be strengthened and sustained. Farotimi’s case has drawn widespread criticism from human rights advocates, who view it as emblematic of the challenges facing Nigeria’s rule of law and democracy.
