By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the February 25, 2023 general election, Peter Gregory Obi has visited Dele Farotimi, saying he finds him in good spirits and deeply encouraged by his unwavering dedication to the struggle for a better Nigeria.
Obi, who diisclosed this when he took to his X handle account on Friday (today), hinted that he had not made out time to visit Farotimi since his return from the correctional center in Ekiti. Obi said he was pleased to find him in good spirits.
“@DeleFarotimi exemplifies courage in the face of adversity, consistently taking bold stands for good governance in our nation. I wish him a fruitful and productive year as we continue to work together toward the development of our country, Obi added.
Precise Post recalls that Dele Farotimi, the Nigerian human rights lawyer persecuted for weeks by senior lawyer Afe Babalola, was released from prison in Ekiti on the eve of christmas.
HOW IT ALL STARTED:
On July 2, Farotimi released a book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Months after the 116-page book’s release, Babalola accused Farotimi of defamation and this led to the human rights lawyer being arrested in a Gestapo-like manner at his Lagos office by a group of policemen attached to the Ekiti State Police Command on December 3.
Farotimi was then subsequently transported to Ekiti State.
Apart from the defamation charges initially brought against Farotimi at an Ekiti State Magistrate Court by Babalola’s team, Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), also filed 12 additional charges against the lawyer at an Ekiti Federal High Court on December 6.
An Abuja High Court also subsequently ordered multiple security agencies in the country to seize physical copies of Farotimi’s book from all bookstands and stores nationwide.
The court also temporarily restrained Farotimi from “further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the physical/hard/digital/ soft copies of the book online, electronically, physically or by any other means”.
Farotimi’s trial then led to criticism from Nigerians with many calling for a protest to be staged against what they termed “an unlawful arrest”.
The lawyer was eventually granted bail by an Ekiti State Magistrate Court on December 20.
The bail conditions included a N30 million bond, two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner, a submission of Farotimi’s passport and a prohibition of Farotimi granting media interviews once released.
