Dele Farotimi, a controversial human rights advocate, has expressed deep gratitude to Nigerians for their unwavering support during his recent imprisonment, emphasizing that their solidarity transcended tribal and religious lines.
Farotimi had been detained for 21 days at the Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, after facing allegations of “criminal defamation” against Afe Babalola, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The charges stemmed from his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
After a tense legal battle, Farotimi was granted bail on December 24, set at a hefty sum of N30 million, allowing him to walk free.
In an emotional moment shared via social media post-release, Farotimi couldn’t hold back his tears as he thanked the Nigerians who stood by him throughout the ordeal, offering heartfelt appreciation for their solidarity in his fight for justice.
“We stopped being humans because we became Nigerians. They divided us and we fell for it. Because you would not see me as a Yoruba man, you spoke for me.
“You would not see me as a Christian, you spoke for me. Because you spoke, Nigeria could not happen to me. You found your voices, I became you and in our collective, we could not be silenced.”
Recall that the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has declined request by Emmanuel Chambers, Afe Babalola’s law firm, to disbar Farotimi for alleged unethical conduct.
