“See What Begging Has Done”: Sowore Reacts as Dele Farotimi Sent Back to Prison

Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has been remanded in custody after his bail application hearing was adjourned to December 20, 2024. Former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore confirmed the development and criticized the circumstances surrounding it in a post on his X handle on Tuesday.

Sowore’s comment, “Dele Farotimi has been sent back to prison for the next 10 days. See what begging has done? #FreeDeleFarotimiNow,” appeared to target Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections. Obi allegedly visited Chief Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), to plead on Farotimi’s behalf, a move Sowore had previously criticized.

Farotimi, who arrived at the Chief Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday in a police security van, was accompanied by officials from the correctional center. The court postponed the bail hearing after police counsel Samson Osobu argued that the application was irregular.

The lawyer’s legal troubles began after a defamation lawsuit was filed by Chief Afe Babalola, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Farotimi was arrested in Lagos by the Ekiti State Police Command before being transferred to Ado-Ekiti.