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Human rights advocate Dele Farotimi expressed deep gratitude for the outpouring of support from Nigerians, which he believes played a crucial role in his release. Speaking in an emotional video shared on YouTube and X on Sunday, Farotimi credited his freedom to the collective voice of Nigerians who rallied behind him during his ordeal.
Reflecting on the unity of Nigerians, Farotimi said, “We stopped being human because we became Nigerians. They divided us, and we fell for it. Because you didn’t see me as a Yoruba man, you spoke for me. Because you didn’t see me as a Christian, you spoke for me. Nigeria couldn’t happen to me because you spoke.”
Farotimi continued, emphasizing the power of solidarity in fighting oppression: “You found your voices. I became you. And in our collective, you couldn’t be silenced.”
The human rights advocate’s release came after his arrest on December 3 by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command. He was charged with defamation and cyberbullying following allegations made by Aare Afe Babalola, a prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). Babalola accused Farotimi of defaming him in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, claiming that Farotimi’s allegations implicated Babalola and other SANs in corrupt activities involving Supreme Court Justices.
As a result, Farotimi was arraigned in an Ekiti State Magistrate Court and later faced additional charges filed by the Inspector General of Police at the Ekiti Federal High Court on December 6.
On December 21, the court granted Farotimi bail under stringent conditions, which included a N30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), surrendering his passport, and a ban on giving media interviews post-release.
Speaking to reporters, Farotimi maintained his innocence, asserting that he had never made false claims against anyone. “It is not easy to fight evil. Years ago, before starting this work, God told me that the truth is enough. It is the only weapon to slay the monster called Nigeria,” he said.
He added, “In my battle against the evil empire we live in, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know something, I will say I don’t know.”