Protest Group Sets To Challenge Police Ban And Hold Rally For Dele Farotimi

Protest Group Sets To Challenge Police Ban And Hold Rally For Dele FarotimiThe Take It Back Movement has announced its intention to move forward with planned protests in Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, London, and Canada, despite the police ban on public demonstrations. The protests are aimed at denouncing the arrest and detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, who was detained over alleged defamation charges.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This decision comes in direct defiance of warnings from the Ekiti State Police Command, which recently prohibited public protests, unlawful gatherings, and the use of fireworks, citing security concerns. In a statement, police spokesperson Abutu Sunday emphasized that “any form of unlawful gathering, demonstration, or protest is unacceptable” and claimed intelligence suggested that some individuals might hijack the protests to incite violence and cause unrest.

Nevertheless, the Take It Back Movement, led by activist Omoyele Sowore, reaffirmed its commitment to the protests. The movement shared a flyer on social media via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, announcing the “Nationwide/Global Protest Against The Nigerian Judiciary,” and urging Nigerians to resist intimidation and speak out against perceived injustice.

The protest is scheduled for December 10, 2024, at the Ekiti State Police Headquarters in Ado Ekiti, with similar rallies planned in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Toronto, and London. A video message from Sowore, who was a former presidential candidate, further emphasized the movement’s resolve. In the clip, he stated, “An unjust act of oppression cannot stand no matter how ‘well presented’ it is under the colour of law! On December 10, 2024, the people intoxicated by power will be confronted by the power of the people!”

The protests are in response to the legal case involving Dele Farotimi, who was arrested after a petition from Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. Babalola accused Farotimi of defaming him in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.

Following the petition, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday and later arraigned in Ado Ekiti’s Magistrates Court on Wednesday. During the hearing, the police requested that Farotimi be remanded in a correctional facility, but his lawyer sought bail. Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun rejected the bail request and ordered Farotimi’s remand, adjourning the case to December 10, 2024, coinciding with the scheduled protests.

In addition to the original charges, the police have pressed new charges against Farotimi, related to alleged cybercrime offences. These charges stem from comments he made during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast, where he accused Afe Babalola of compromising the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary.

The Take It Back Movement’s protest is part of a larger effort to challenge what they perceive as a misuse of power and defend Farotimi’s right to free expression.

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