Police officers outside the Afe Babalola chambers in Lagos
Stern looking police officers are keeping watch over the Afe Babalola Chambers in the Magodo area of Lagos.
The operatives are on the premises to keep protesters at bay, amid a planned demonstration over the prosecution of Dele Farotimi, the human rights activist.
The chambers is one of the venues pencilled for the commencement of a protest by the ‘Take it Back Movement’ — a group led by Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters.
On December 5, Sowore asked Nigerians to join a “nationwide/global protest” against the judiciary over Farotimi’s prosecution.
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Sowore said the protest would kick off on December 10 from the Afe Babalola Chambers in Lagos, Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, Police Headquarters in Ekiti, and Kings’ College Campus in London.
At the time of reporting, there were no protesters at the aforementioned venues. Police patrol vans could however be seen at some of the locations.
Last Tuesday, Farotimi was arrested by the Ekiti police command over alleged defamation and cyberbullying.
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The activist was accused of spreading false information against Babalola. Subsequently, the inspector-general of police filed a 12-count charge bordering on cybercrime against Farotimi.
On Monday, Farotimi was granted bail on the cybercrime charges. On Tuesday, Farotimi returned to the magistrate court in Ekiti for arraignment over alleged defamation.
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