Dele Farotimi In Tears: Appreciates Nigerians for Their Solidarity

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

Lagos-based human rights activist and the embattled author of international best seller on Nigerian Criminal Justice System, 

Dele Farotimi has appreciated Nigerians for their solidarity during his detention over allegations of defamation against Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, bursting into uncontrollable tears.

In a new viral video trending on social media, Dele Farotimi could been appreciating Nigerians for standing by him during his time in prison, regardless of his tribe or religion.

OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News recalls that an Ekiti state magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti, had remanded Farotimi for 21 days after he was accused of “criminally defaming”, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola, in a book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

After being held in custody for over three weeks, Farotimi regained his freedom on the eve of Christmas day, precisely on December 24, upon meeting stringent bail conditions.

These included: a N30 million bond, two sureties (one a property owner), surrendering his personal passport, and agreeing not to grant media interviews post-release.

However, following his release, Farotimi, in a now-viral interview, reflected on the overwhelming support he received from Nigerians.

 “We stop being humans because we became Nigerians. They divided us and we fell for it/ Nigerians overlooked my ethnicity, my religion, and spoke for me.

“You would not see me as a Christian, you spoke for me. Because you spoke, Nigeria could not happen to me. You found your voices, I became you and in our collective, we could not be silenced,” he said in the emotion-ridden video as he got moved to tears.