Police arrest human rights lawyer Farotimi for allegedly defaming UBA chairman Tony Elumelu

The Nigerian Police Force has arrested human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, for allegedly defaming the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Group, Tony Elumelu.

Farotimi’s arrest was revealed by the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his X handle on Tuesday.

Sowore disclosed that Elumelu filed a petition accusing Farotimi of defamation.

Sowore called for the lawyer’s immediate release, emphasising that the police should not be used to settle personal disputes.

Sowore wrote, “I just learned that Dele Farotimi was arrested by the Nigerian Police over a petition by Tony Elumelu of UBA Group alleging that Dele defamed him.

“It is pertinent that the Nigerian police are notified that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores, and we, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation.

“Therefore, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Dele Farotimi immediately.”