‘Colossal injustice to Farotimi’ — Sowore berates Obi over visit to Afe Babalola

Omoyele Sowore, publisher of Sahara Reporters, has criticised Peter Obi for visiting Afe Babalola to “plead” for Dele Farotimi, the human rights activist.

Last Tuesday, Farotimi was arrested by the Ekiti police command over alleged defamation and cyberbullying.

The activist was accused of spreading false information against Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Subsequently, the inspector-general of police filed a 12-count charge bordering on cybercrime against Farotimi.

Sowore had announced a “nationwide/global protest” against the judiciary over the prosecution of the activist.

Farotimi was granted bail on the cybercrime charges on Monday.

Moses Paul, a social activist, had posted that Obi visited “Afe Babalola at his office within the Afe Babalola University, where they had in-depth discussions on critical issues, including the situation of activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi”.

“Following this, Mr Peter Obi proceeded to the prison facility where Dele Farotimi is being held,” he added.

“In a private meeting, he expressed solidarity and engaged in a candid exchange aimed at addressing the prevailing challenges.”

Reacting to the development, Sowore said Obi’s visit to Babalola has grounded the wheel of of justice.

“I condemn those who went to “beg” Chief Afe Babalola today over the unjust detention and persecution of Dele Farotimi; the delegation led by Peter Obi did colossal injustice to the struggle to drain the swamp of judicial criminality in our country,” Sowore said.

“Obi’s action is like forcing Rosa Parks to return to the back of the bus of racial injustice during the civil rights era in the US! The struggle continues!”