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Human rights advocate and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has condemned the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for placing fellow lawyer, Dele Farotimi, in handcuffs during his court appearance over a defamation charge.
Odinkalu contrasted this with the treatment of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who was seen being “honorably escorted” by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) despite being implicated in a multi-billion naira fraud case.
The criticism follows Farotimi’s court appearance in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday, where he was brought in handcuffed after being charged by Afe Babalola (SAN) under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015. In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Odinkalu pointed out the stark difference in treatment, stating, “They took @DeleFarotimi, who has never touched a kobo of #Nigeria’s money, and put him in handcuffs less than two weeks after @OfficialGYBKogi swagged into @officialEFCC’s offices before showing up in court like a superstar. Dele set these guys up, and they’re falling for it.”
The incident sparked a wave of backlash on social media, with many Nigerians questioning why Farotimi, a staunch advocate for free speech, was subjected to such treatment, while high-profile political figures accused of corruption appeared in court without similar measures. Critics have argued that this reflects a selective application of justice in Nigeria, with some comparing Farotimi’s case to that of Yahaya Bello, who faces allegations of misappropriating over N100 billion in public funds, yet has not faced similar public scrutiny.
One social media user, @afrotrax, commented, “Exactly the point! Our government and its politicians act like dictatorial regimes—gradually eroding their intelligence and judgment, driven by greed and power. Dele Farotimi exposed this decay, and they failed to grasp it.”
Another user, @egbelowo, wrote, “In Nigeria, criminals often roam freely, while the law is seemingly designed to oppress those without power or connections.”
They took @DeleFarotimi who has never touched a kobo of #Nigeria's money & put him in handcuffs less than a fortnight after @OfficialGYBKogi swagged into the offices of @officialEFCC b4 showing up in court as a superstar. Dele set these guys up & they're falling for it. pic.twitter.com/PyHpSqUgZn
— Chidi Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) December 9, 2024
