Human rights activist Dele Farotimi has expressed deep gratitude to Nigerians for rallying behind him during his detention over allegations of defamation.
Farotimi was arrested on December 3 at his Lagos office by police officers from the Ekiti Command and taken to Ekiti State.
The charges against him stemmed from claims of defaming Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
After spending over three weeks in custody, Farotimi was released on December 24, having met strict bail conditions. These included a ₦30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must own property), surrendering his passport, and refraining from granting media interviews.
Announcing his release, former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore stated, “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held at the prison yards in Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos.”
In a live broadcast following his release, Farotimi broke down in tears, acknowledging the overwhelming support he received.
“Nigerians overlooked my ethnicity, my religion, and spoke for me,” he said. Reflecting on the unity displayed, he added, “Nigeria couldn’t happen to me because people spoke for me.”
Farotimi credited his freedom to the collective advocacy of Nigerians, emphasizing the importance of solidarity in transcending the country’s ethnic and religious divides.
