Police Arrest Labour Party Chieftain, Farotimi For Defaming Tony Elumelu
A chieftain of the Labour Party, Dele Farotimi has been arrested by Nigerian Police Force Officers on suspicion of disparaging Tony Elumelu, the CEO of the United Bank for Africa.
In a post on his X handle on Tuesday, Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress’s 2023 presidential candidate, disclosed Farotimi’s arrest.
Elumelu filed a petition accusing Farotimi of defamation, Sowore revealed.
He demanded the lawyer’s immediate release, stressing that private conflicts shouldn’t be resolved by the police.
“I just learned that Dele Farotimi was arrested by the Nigerian Police over a petition by Tony Elumelu of UBA Group alleging Dele defamed him.
“It is pertinent that the Nigerian police are notified that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores, and we, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation.
“Therefore, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Dele Farotimi immediately,” Sowore wrote.
Didactic Information Hut recalls that the Human Rights Lawyer had recently raised the alarm over an alleged threat to his life.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Tuesday, Farotimi explained how he got information on November 11 that an invitation letter from the Zone 2, Police Command, was delivered to his office.
Farotimi narrating his ordeal thus far said, “Despite finding the petition baseless, I addressed its content”.
“Subsequently, I met with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP and the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Zone 2. After discussions, I was released on bail on self-recognisance and asked to return to the station on Thursday, the 21st of November 2024.
“Following this, I informed my friend, Pastor Sam Aiyedogbon of Realm of Glory International Churches, about the incident.
“On Saturday, the 16th of November 2024, Pastor Sam informed me that one of the pastors in his church, John Ntekume, had been abducted by the police, interrogated, and then returned to the church.
“He was coerced to write a statement along with another pastor, Obiorah Ochokwu.
“The police showed them a petition written by Chief Afe Babalola in Ekiti State, addressed to the Ekiti State Police Command, and demanded that they lure me to the church to facilitate my arrest.
“The pastors informed the police that they had no means of doing so, as I am not a hidden person and do not have a direct relationship with them.
“They explained that I had preached at their church as a guest of their senior pastor and left. From their accounts, it became evident that the officers were from the Ekiti State Police Command.
“I found it perplexing that the police would attempt to lure me through such means, especially since I had already reported to Zone 2 on the 13th of November 2024 and was scheduled to return on the 21st of November 2024.”
