Civil Groups Urge NBA President to Sanction Afe Babalola, Ekiti Magistrate, Others Over Farotimi’s Arrest

A coalition of civil society organizations has written to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urging him to pressure the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to drop all criminal charges against human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi.

The groups also called on the NBA to initiate disciplinary actions against Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun for alleged judicial misconduct and unprofessional behavior as a member of the NBA.

Additionally, they demanded disciplinary measures against Afe Babalola (SAN) and his legal team, including Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Olu Daramola (SAN), Aladesoye (SAN), Lawal Pedro (SAN), Prof. Akinseye George (SAN), and Olu Daramola Esq.

The letter was jointly signed by representatives of various groups: Com. Francis Nwapa of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Com. Lateef Adams of Movement for Socialist Alternative (MSA), Com.

Chinedu Bosah of Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights, Com. Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji of Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC), Com. Hassan Taiwo Soweto of Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Com. Tony Akeni of Save Democracy Mega Alliance (SDMA), Rev. Emmanuel Him of National Rescue Congress (NRC), Com. M.O. Shitu of Good Citizens for Peace and Progress Initiative (GCPPI), and Com. Azikwe Samuel of Obedient Movement Lagos Chapter.

The coalition highlighted an incident where officers of the Rapid Response Squad from the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force raided Farotimi’s law office in Lekki, Lagos State, and forcibly took him away without a warrant. He was later transported to Ekiti State.

The group said, “In the aforesaid charges, he is alleged to be circulating information that can cause breakdown of law and order through his book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System”, and “How same impugn the person of Aare Afe Babalola (in respect of the charges at the Magistrate Court) and violating the Cybercrimes Act (in respect of the charges before the Federal High Court).”

READ ALSO: Video: ‘You’re All Re-Elected,’ Tinubu Tells 10th NASS Lawmakers

The group further stated, “While the Federal High Court has granted him bail, the Magistrate Court per curiam Magistrate Adeosun, his application for bail at the last adjourned date, 10th December, 2024 was adjourned for 10 days till 20th December, 2024, despite being a Court of Summary Trial.

“We are of the considered view that the action of Magistrate Adeosun amounts to judicial rascality and professional misconduct as a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“In short, we call for the Nigerian Bar Association to undertake disciplinary action against Magistrate Adeosun.

“We are also of the view that these charges are trumped-up charges instigated by Aare Afe Babalola and his co-travellers to keep a citizen perpetually in custody.”

The groups called for disciplinary action against Afe Babalola, his lawyers and the Magistrate.

“We hereby humbly appeal to your esteemed Office to call on the Attorney General of the Federation to exercise the constitutional powers of his office to take over and discontinue any Criminal Charges in all states of the Federation and discontinue the aforesaid charges against Dele Farotimi by entering ‘nolle prose qui,’” the groups said.

“We hereby give notice that where the charges continue to subsist against Dele Farotimi, we will be left with no choice but to exercise our fundamental rights to peaceful assembly by organizing peaceful demonstrations across different states of Nigeria to seek end to the farcical trial of Dele Farotimi.”

Follow Parallel Facts on WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCQSAoHgZWiDjR3Kn2E