The Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) has strongly condemned the arrest, detention, and remand of Dele Farotimi Esq., describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of the rule of law. The group demanded Farotimi’s immediate release and appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to intervene urgently.
CRRAN President, Olu Omotayo, expressed concern that the courts in Nigeria are gradually eroding the hard-earned constitutional rights of citizens. The group noted that the arrest and detention of Farotimi for alleged defamatory remarks against Afe Babalola is a clear example of this trend.
The organisation cited the landmark case of Arthur Nwankwo vs. The State (1985), where the Court of Appeal held that sedition or criminal defamation is inconsistent with the principles of democracy. CRRAN lamented that over 40 years after this judgement, the courts in Nigeria are still relying on colonial-era laws to subjugate citizens.
CRRAN urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to take immediate action to address this issue, emphasizing that the continued erosion of citizens’ rights would spell doom for human rights and democracy in the country.