Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi has cried out that his life is in danger from those he referred to as Nigerian elites, acting in collaboration with the security agencies.
Farotimi made the allegation of threat to his life in a statement posted on Tuesday on his X (formerly Twitter) page with the caption: “They want to silence me”.
He narrated how he was invited by the Zone 2 Police Command, where he was presented with a petition written by a lawyer on behalf of Mr. Tony Elumelu, accusing me of defamation.
“Despite finding the petition baseless, I addressed its content. Subsequently, I met with the deputy commissioner of police and the assistant inspector-general in- charge of Zone 2.
“After discussions, I was released on bail on self-recognisance and asked to return to the station on Thursday, 21st November 2024,” the lawyer recounted.
However, Farotimi accused the Zone 2 Police Command of deploying questionable means to lure and arrest him, adding that “I subsequently, began receiving suspicious messages from individuals clearly attempting to lure me to certain locations where I feared I might be abducted.
“Following this, I informed my friend, Pastor Sam Aiyedogbon of the Realm of Glory International Churches, about the incident.
“On Saturday, the 16th of November 2024, Pastor Sam informed me that one of the pastors in his church, John Ntekume, had been abducted by the police, interrogated and then returned to the church. He was coerced to write a statement along with another pastor, Obiorah Ochokwu.
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“The police showed them a petition written by Chief Afe Babalola in Ekiti State, addressed to the Ekiti State Police Command, and demanded that they lure me to the church to facilitate my arrest.
“The pastors informed the police that they had no means of doing so, as I am not a hidden person and do not have a direct relationship with them. They explained that I had preached at their church as a guest of their senior pastor and left. From their accounts, it became evident that the officers were from the Ekiti State Police Command. It became evident that these individuals were operating outside standard procedures.”
Farotimi stated further that the situation intensified when his domestic staff was confronted by individuals at Evron Food Store in Lekki, who claimed to have a package for him.
He added that frustrated by their inability to manipulate his guard, the individuals resorted to arresting and interrogating him at the Zone 2 Police Command, demanding his home address and his wife’s contact information.
The lawyer said that though he is a law-abiding citizen and has consistently honoured every lawful invitation by the police, “these recent developments targeting my associates, tracking my phone, and harassing innocent individuals are deeply concerning.
“It has therefore become clear, and it is no longer hidden that there are policemen from the Ekiti State Police Command who are currently working out of Zone 2 Police Command on a mission to abduct me.
“Even, if one elects to pursue criminal proceedings and attempts to criminalise free speech, as Chief Afe Babalola is attempting to do, there is still a lawful process to follow. It is no accident that the Ekiti State Police Command has been enlisted in this injustice and has become an instrument of evil.”
