Dele Farotimi, the Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist, has finally addressed the public days after his release.
Recall that the activist was arrested in Lagos on December 3 2024, and charged before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court for allegedly defaming a legal icon, Afe Babalola in his book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.
The magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun on December 4, remanded Farotimi in prison custody.
The Nigeria police on December 6, filed additional 12 count charge against him.
On December 20, the court granted Farotimi a N30 million bail, ordered him to submit his international passport and also restrained him from granting media interviews pending the determination of the suit.
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However, in a now trending video on social media on Sunday, December 29, 2024, Farotimi appreciated the general public for uniting together to seek his freedom from the prison.
While dedicating his release to Nigerians, Farotimi stated, “We stopped being human because we became Nigerians. They divided us and we fell for it. Because you wouldn’t see me as a Yoruba man, you spoke for me.
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“Because you wouldn’t see me as a Christian you spoke for me. Because you spoke Nigeria couldn’t happen to me. The only reason Nigeria couldn’t happen to me is because you spoke. You found your voices, I became you. And in our collective you couldn’t be silent.”
Watch him speak below:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1873298791635509642
