The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has strongly criticized the arrest of lawyer Dele Farotimi by the Nigeria Police Force on allegations of libel.
NBA President Afam Osigwe, in a statement issued on Tuesday night in Abuja, condemned the reported invasion of Farotimi’s law firm and the alleged harassment of lawyers and staff during the incident.
Osigwe described the police’s actions as a troubling violation of the rule of law and an affront to the sanctity of the legal profession. While acknowledging the police’s authority to investigate crimes, he emphasized that such powers must be exercised lawfully and only for offenses recognized under Nigerian law.
He pointed out that libel, the alleged basis for Farotimi’s arrest, is not a criminal offense under Lagos State law. The Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 decriminalized defamation, treating it instead as a civil matter. Osigwe noted that this legislative reform aligns with global standards, which consider defamation a civil wrong rather than a criminal act.
Farotimi’s arrest reportedly stems from allegations of defaming Tony Elumelu, Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Group. He was allegedly apprehended at his Lagos residence and taken to Ado-Ekiti in Ekiti State for questioning.
The arrest has drawn widespread criticism from prominent Nigerians, with many expressing concerns about its implications for free speech and legal practice in the country.
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