‘Dele Farotimi is languishing in jail while Nigeria celebrates Human Rights Day’ – Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has expressed his concerns over the detention of human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi which he has condemned as a violation of fundamental rights violation and an indication of the growing repression in Nigeria.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election who raised the alarm on Tuesday on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day, said it was troubling that Farotimi is being detained and prosecuted under a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State, where his alleged offence was said to have been committed.

In the statement he posted on his official X handle, Atiku criticized the circumstances surrounding Farotimi’s incarceration, highlighting that he is being prosecuted under a cyberbullying law does not exist in Ekiti State.

“@DeleFarotimi, a lawyer and tireless advocate for human rights, now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed “crime” of persistently speaking truth to power,” the former VP wrote.

“His only offense lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden.

READ ALSO: Court denies human rights activist, Dele Farotimi bail on defamation charges

“More troubling still is the fact that he is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State.

“His plight serves as a poignant reflection of the pervasive climate of impunity and the blatant violation of citizens’ rights that has become all too common in Nigeria.

“Yet, perhaps the most alarming of all is the weaponization of the cyberbullying law, which is being used as a tool to harass, intimidate, and silence dissenting voices in the opposition and the press.

“On this solemn occasion of International Human Rights Day, let us take a moment to remind our leaders at every level of government to honour the oaths they have sworn to protect and uphold the constitutionally enshrined rights of the people. Only through this commitment can we hope to nurture and strengthen our democracy.”

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