By Ayomide Otitoju
Human rights advocate Dele Farotimi expressed deep gratitude and emotion while reflecting on the solidarity of Nigerians, which he credited with saving his life during a recent ordeal.
Speaking in a broadcast shared via YouTube and X on Sunday, Farotimi described how a united stand by Nigerians transcended ethnic and religious divides to ensure his freedom.
“We stopped being human because we became Nigerians. They divided us, and we fell for it. But you didn’t see me as a Yoruba man or a Christian—you spoke for me. Nigeria couldn’t happen to me because you spoke,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion.
Farotimi emphasized the power of collective action against oppression, saying, “You found your voices. I became you. And in our collective, you couldn’t be silenced.”
Arrest and Legal Battles
Farotimi was arrested on December 3 by officers from the Ekiti State Police Command on charges of defamation and cyberbullying. The charges stemmed from his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, in which he alleged that legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria had corruptly influenced Supreme Court Justices.
Following his arrest, Farotimi faced 12 additional charges filed by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun at an Ekiti Federal High Court. Despite being arraigned in a magistrate court and granted stringent bail conditions—including a ₦30 million bond, surrender of his passport, and restrictions on media interviews—Farotimi maintained his innocence.
“It’s not an easy journey fighting evil. I have never lied against anyone. The truth is my only weapon against the monster called Nigeria,” he stated.
