Dele Farotimi’s arrest: Police can’t be tool of oppressing, harassing Nigerians – Idam

Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam has said the use of police in settling civil matters is primitive.

Reacting to the arrest of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, Idam said police should not be used as a tool of oppressing and harassing Nigerians.

Farotimi was picked up by men of the Nigeria Police Force from Zone 2 Command in Lagos, following a defamation petition filed by Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group.

A day before the incident, Farotimi had raised concerns over alleged threats to his life by influential figures within Nigerian political circles.

Reacting, Idam said those who feel aggrieved in a civil wrong should seek redress in court.

In a statement he signed, Idam said: “It is curious to find that the Nigeria Police is less busy even with the task of combating the myriads of security challenges wrestling with defenceless citizens of Nigeria.

“The arrest of Mr. Dele Farotimi over an alleged libel which is an obvious civil wrong is rather a confirmation that the Nigeria police is unbothered with the security challenges in Nigeria.

“In a plethora of cases, the Supreme Court has sounded a note of warning against the practice of using the police as a tool for oppression against innocent citizens over civil issues. Sadly, the police have continuously neglected every warning against their involvement in civil matters.

“The Inspector General of Police must redirect the Police Force to combating of crimes and protection of lives and properties instead of wading into civil disputes or seeking to involve in contractual disagreement by the use of coercive powers.

“A person who claims to have been defamed must seek redress in a court of Law and not in a police station.

“The use of police in settlement of civil wrongs is not only primitive but antithetical to civility.”