Dele Farotimi, a renowned human rights lawyer, was reportedly arrested by plainclothes policemen on Tuesday, December 3. Following the arrest, investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo spoke with News Central, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Soyombo disclosed that Farotimi had expressed concerns about his safety just days before his arrest. “He spoke with me on Sunday stating that he had intel that he was about to be silenced and that his safety would be compromised,” Soyombo revealed.
Soyombo added that while he was uncertain whether Farotimi was apprehended in Lagos or Abuja, he believed the arrest went beyond the allegations of defamation. “As a matter of fact, the law doesn’t allow the police to arrest anyone based on defamation but instead to institute a lawsuit,” he said.
Criticising the broader implications, Soyombo linked the arrest to the Bola Tinubu administration’s alleged disregard for press freedom and abuse of state powers. “This keeps in line with what we have come to know of the Bola Tinubu administration’s disregard for press freedom, misuse, and abuse of state powers,” he said.
Farotimi’s concerns, according to Soyombo, were rooted in fear for his life. “Frankly, he sounded as if he was going to be killed, basically run out of circulation. By the way, Dele Farotimi is not someone who calls or texts all the time; he only reaches out when it is important. I do know that his fears are valid, and I can connect the dots and link his fears to what has happened today,” Soyombo stated.
He further highlighted a worrying trend of arrests targeting government critics, describing it as part of a “trajectory” that undermines democracy. “This government doesn’t care, doesn’t listen, not interested. Security agents are now even emboldened. They’ll tell you they’ll shoot you, and nothing will happen. They keep you in detention and tell you they are not answerable to anybody… And that’s terrible for a country that claims to be practicing democracy,” Soyombo lamented.
The arrest of Farotimi has raised alarm about the shrinking space for dissent and press freedom in Nigeria, with critics urging greater accountability from the government and security agencies.
