Dele Farotimi Arrested for Alleged Defamation of Tony Elumelu

Human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi was reportedly arrested by the Nigerian Police on Monday, just hours after releasing a public statement where he alleged attempts by state actors to intimidate and silence him.

Farotimi’s arrest was made public by fellow activist Omoyele Sowore, who described it as part of a disturbing trend of using law enforcement to settle personal disputes.

In his statement, published on his official X (formerly Twitter) page earlier on December 3, 2024, Farotimi recounted multiple encounters with the police over a defamation petition filed by billionaire businessman and UBA Group chairman Tony Elumelu. He alleged that law enforcement officers had resorted to unconventional and intimidating tactics in their pursuit of the case.

Hours later, Sowore tweeted:

“I just learned that @DeleFarotimi was arrested by @PoliceNG over a petition by @TonyOElumelu of @UBAGroup 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 @PoliceNG at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister @DeleFarotimi immediately.”

Farotimi’s detailed statement had raised concerns over the lengths to which law enforcement officials were allegedly willing to go. He recounted being invited to Zone 2 Police Command in Lagos on multiple occasions in response to the petition and claimed that the situation escalated when his domestic staff and associates were targeted.

“I have consistently honored every lawful invitation by the Nigeria Police Force,” Farotimi wrote. “However, these recent developments—targeting my associates, tracking my phone, and harassing innocent individuals—are deeply concerning.”

He also accused certain police officers from Ekiti State of working out of Lagos to execute what he described as a “mission to abduct” him under the guise of legal proceedings. Farotimi expressed his frustration with the alleged misuse of power:

“If I have committed a crime, it was not done in Ekiti State. I live in Lagos, I work in Lagos, and every event described in my book occurred in Lagos State. Deploying this police impunity in pursuit of me, when I could simply be invited, clearly shows the level of evil that has been unleashed against a citizen.”

Farotimi’s statement also referred to a defamation petition purportedly linked to Elumelu, accusing the prominent businessman of using the police to suppress dissent. He questioned the legality of the actions taken against him and emphasized his commitment to resisting what he termed “darkness and impunity.”

His arrest has sparked an outcry among civil society advocates, with calls for his immediate release. Farotimi ended his public statement defiantly, stating, “I am in my home in Lagos. Come and arrest me if I have committed any crime.”