Odinkalu: Lawyers Defending Dele Farotimi Facing Threats of Violence

Professor Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, former chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, has revealed that lawyers defending detained human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi in a defamation case in Ekiti State are facing threats of violence. Odinkalu shared the alarming news on his official X account, stating that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) had been specifically targeted with threats to burn his law firm if he expressed support for Farotimi.

“Threats have been issued against a SAN to burn his law firm should he utter a position supportive of Dele Farotimi,” Odinkalu wrote. “That’s how to show no one is involved in corrupting the judiciary!” His statement highlights the disturbing trend of intimidation against legal professionals in high-profile cases and raises concerns about the integrity of the judicial process.

Farotimi, who has been in detention since his arrest earlier this month, faces 16 charges of criminal defamation brought by the Ekiti Police Command on behalf of prominent lawyer Afe Babalola (SAN). Farotimi was arrested at his Lagos office and transferred to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court. The charges stem from allegations that Farotimi defamed Babalola and his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co.

Despite the legal challenges, Farotimi’s defence team, led by Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), filed a preliminary objection on December 9, arguing that the charges against Farotimi are legally invalid. The defence team, which includes three other senior advocates and 16 additional lawyers, contends that the defamation charges are not recognized under the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021, making the case legally non-existent.

The Magistrate Court has allowed the charges to proceed, and Farotimi remains in prison custody after being denied bail last week. A bail hearing is scheduled for December 20. The case has also drawn attention to a broader atmosphere of intimidation. Reports indicate that political thugs, allegedly mobilized by the Ekiti State government and Babalola, gathered at the court to intimidate those attending the trial. Video footage later emerged showing personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS) escorting the thugs, who reportedly attacked activists in Ekiti.