Activists Form Global Coalition to Support Dele Farotimi in Legal Battle Against Afe Babalola

Nigerian activists and organizations have come together to form a global coalition in support of lawyer Dele Farotimi, who is currently engaged in a legal battle with prominent lawyer Afe Babalola. The coalition, which includes key figures such as Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore, activists Rudolf Okonkwo, Chidi Odinkalu, and Deji Adeyanju, as well as Malcolm Fabiyi of the Governance Advancement Initiative for Nigeria (GAIN), aims to ensure that Farotimi receives fair treatment in his legal proceedings.

In a statement, coalition spokesman Malcolm Fabiyi emphasized that the coalition’s goal is to fight for justice for Farotimi, whose allegations of judicial corruption have put him at odds with the system. Fabiyi pointed out that the Nigerian judicial system is widely seen as corrupt, with both politicians and citizens acknowledging its flaws. According to Fabiyi, the treatment of Farotimi in his case is a clear example of the system’s corruption, highlighting the absurdity of a man being jailed for missing court proceedings without prior notice, charged with an offense that does not exist in Ekiti state law, and arrested in Lagos by officers who traveled through multiple states.

Fabiyi also questioned the legality of the case, noting that the series of illegalities stacked upon one another, with Farotimi being the one imprisoned despite the abuses of his rights, further validated the claims of corruption that he has made.

The coalition has outlined its strategy in three key areas: first, the establishment of a legal defense fund to ensure Farotimi has the resources to mount a robust defense; second, global coordination of actions to support his cause; and third, the launch of a new whistleblowing initiative aimed at encouraging individuals with knowledge of corruption in the judicial system, particularly related to Farotimi’s allegations against Afe Babalola and some judicial officers, to come forward.

Fabiyi emphasized that the coalition will provide a secure platform for whistleblowers and offer monetary incentives for information that exposes corruption. He encouraged insiders in the system—such as clerks, court registrars, and bank workers—who may be aware of corrupt practices to share what they know, warning that attempts to silence Farotimi will only lead to greater revelations.

An online meeting to discuss the coalition’s actions will be held on Tuesday at 7pm Nigerian time, and the public is invited to join via the provided link: https://bit.ly/Farotimi.