The news of the arrest of citizen Dele Farotimi by officers of the Nigerian Police Force on the allegation of committing criminal defamation is illegal and an unpardonable abuse of power of arrest. Criminal defamation is no longer an offence known to our laws, same having been held to be unconstitutional by the appellate Court. Defamation is a civil matter and any person aggrieved should resort to civil remedies and not to employ security agencies to go after the alleged maker of the defamatory statement.
The penchant of the security agencies to arrest patriotic citizens who are exercising their constitutional right to freedom of speech is an unconstitutional exercise of power and privileges. The powers given to the security agencies are in trust for the public and should not be used for private purposes.
I have observed that it is only the affluent and the wealthy people particularly, the politicians and those close to the powers that be that are fond of using security agencies to go after their perceived enemies, and thereby using the instrument of State power as an oppressive tool against Nigerians that speak truth to power. That is a betrayal of public trust on the part of the security agencies.
I call on the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order and direct the immediate release of Mr. Dele Farotimi immediately. There are bigger criminals within the corridors of power looting public funds and mismanaging our commonwealth, that should be the concern of the security agencies. The Police should stop de-marketing and making itself available to be used to settle civil scores of power-drunk individuals in the society.
Kunle Edun, SAN
