By Cecilia Ogezi
The National President of the Al-Mushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA), Ambassador Aminu Majidadi, has lent his voice to the growing call for the immediate release of human rights lawyer Dele Farotomi, who has been remanded in prison custody on allegations of defamation.
Speaking on behalf of AITA and Capital Watch Magazine, Ambassador Majidadi expressed grave concerns over the handling of the case, which he described as a troubling deviation from democratic norms that guarantee freedom of expression and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
“The continued detention of Dele Farotomi does not reflect well on Nigeria’s democratic principles,” Majidadi stated. “It raises troubling questions about the state of justice in our nation and the message being sent to the public under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former human rights activist. This situation calls for immediate action to ensure that justice prevails and that the rights of all citizens are upheld without fear or favor.”
Ambassador Majidadi called on the President to order a thorough investigation into the contents of the book at the center of the defamation allegations. He stressed the need to ascertain whether the claims in the book are based on verifiable facts or constitute an act of blackmail. He further cautioned against using state institutions as instruments to silence dissent or massage the egos of influential individuals.
“It is alarming to see the Nigeria Police, already burdened by a barrage of crimes across the nation, redirect their focus to civil matters such as defamation. This not only undermines public trust in the system but also detracts from the urgent need to tackle pressing issues like insecurity, corruption, and economic challenges,” Majidadi remarked.
The AITA President emphasized that defamation cases are inherently civil in nature and should not be weaponized to intimidate or erode fundamental rights. He called for the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to uphold the rule of law and resist any undue influence in such matters.
“In any functioning democracy, differing opinions and criticisms are not only tolerated but embraced as essential to governance and accountability. The strength of our democracy lies in its ability to uphold justice impartially, even when under pressure,” he added.
Ambassador Majidadi urged the Nigerian authorities to prioritize the pressing issues plaguing the nation while ensuring that justice is served in a manner that preserves the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Constitution.
“As a nation, we must remain vigilant in protecting the rights of all citizens and ensure that our institutions reflect the values of fairness, justice, and accountability. The continued detention of Dele Farotomi sends a chilling message about the state of freedom of expression in Nigeria and must be urgently addressed,” he concluded.
