Dele Farotimi’s Arrest Sparks Heated Exchange Between Atiku, Wike’s Aides On X

A fierce exchange erupted on Wednesday between the aides of former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over the arrest of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe, criticized the current administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, for allegedly attempting to suppress freedom of speech, likening it to the repressive practices of military regimes.

Naija News reports that Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, had disclosed that Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, was arrested over an alleged criminal libel.

Farotimi was apprehended by the Nigeria Police Force from Zone 2 Command in Lagos before being taken to Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, for questioning.

Prior to the arrest, Farotimi had publicly expressed concerns about potential threats to his life from influential political figures in Nigeria.

Ibe condemned the arrest on X, stating: “The arrest of Dele Farotimi @DeleFarotimi stands condemned. He should be unconditionally released.

“What we are witnessing under this administration, especially as it relates to efforts at curtailing freedom of speech, is a throwback to the era of military dictatorship. #ReleaseDeleFarotimi.”

In response, Lere Olayinka, Wike’s spokesperson, hit back at Ibe, accusing Atiku of promoting ethnic division.

Olayinka pointed out, “Coming from someone whose principal, because of politics and ethnicity, deleted his tweet condemning the murder of Deborah in Sokoto.”

Olayinka further wrote: “In all these, methinks the first question should be, did the police invite him and he refused to honour the invitation?

“If he was invited and he refused to honour the invitation, the police have the right to arrest him, provided he didn’t have a court order stopping his arrest.

“If he was not invited, it was wrong for him to have been arrested the way he was.

“In this too, bear in mind that owing to the 2015 Cybercrimes Act, DEFAMATION, especially on the Social Media can be approached as both CRIMINAL and CIVIL Matter.“