Atiku Abubakar condemns the arrest of Dele Farotimi, calling it an abuse of power and an attempt to stifle free speech. He criticizes the police's involvement in a defamation case and calls for Farotimi's immediate release. Atiku urges the protection of constitutional rights against authoritarian actions.
Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria and 2023 presidential candidate, has condemned the arrest and detention of lawyer and human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi. Atiku criticized the use of police power in what he described as a disproportionate response to defamation allegations, likening it to using a sledgehammer to swat a fly.
Farotimi’s arrest, which follows comments he made regarding the government, has sparked fears of an increasing authoritarian trend under President Bola Tinubu's administration. Atiku argued that such actions are an attempt to silence dissent, undermine free expression, and create a one-party state, noting that the constitution guarantees freedom of speech and association.
Atiku, recalling his defamation case in 2019, emphasized that he did not use the police to retaliate but instead sought legal redress in court. He called for Farotimi's immediate and unconditional release, describing the police’s involvement as an abuse of power for personal vendettas.
