Dele Farotimi

Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has threatened to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for his arrest and detention in a defamation case involving legal icon Afe Babalola (SAN), which was later withdrawn.

Farotimi was arrested by the police in Lagos in December 2024 and taken to Ekiti State, where he was charged with allegedly defaming Babalola in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. He was subsequently remanded for 21 days by an Ekiti Magistrate Court.

Although Babalola later withdrew the suit, reportedly following interventions by traditional rulers and prominent Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Matthew Kukah, Farotimi has vowed to pursue justice through civil litigation.

Appearing on Sunday Politics on Channels Television, Farotimi said his arrest and detention amounted to a misuse of state power for a private cause.

“Let me continue to reassert that I was always at peace. But when it comes to demanding an account of those who have perverted the powers of the state in pursuit of a private cause, you can be certain of one thing: some people will account for my incarceration,” he said.

He stressed that even though the criminal suit had been withdrawn, civil suits would follow.

“What I would like to do in response to my incarceration is another ball game entirely, but you can take it to the bank: I will certainly be demanding an account from those who sent me to prison.”

When asked who he intended to sue, Farotimi said the decision would be left to his legal team.

“Whether it’s the police that have to be sued, the magistrate who remanded me, the petitioners, or whoever, somebody will explain,” he added.

Babalola has stated that his decision to withdraw the case was influenced by appeals from respected elders and not from Farotimi himself. Farotimi, on his part, said he was neither informed nor consulted before the interventions.