Take-It-Back Movement Announces Dec. 10 Protests Over Arrest of Activist Dele Farotimi

• The Take-It-Back Movement announces nationwide protests on December 10, demanding the release of activist Dele Farotimi following his arrest
• Protests will occur in Lagos, Ekiti, and the UK, highlighting concerns over human rights violations and freedom of expression in Nigeria

The Take-It-Back Movement, a pro-democracy group, has declared December 10 as the date for nationwide and international protests in Lagos, Ekiti, and the United Kingdom.

The demonstrations aim to demand the release of Nigerian human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi, who was arrested and detained over alleged defamation of legal luminary Afe Babalola.

The group announced the protests on its X handle, describing Farotimi’s arrest by the police and subsequent remand by an Ekiti State Magistrate Court as illegal and a violation of his rights.

The allegations against Farotimi include cybercrime and defamation following claims made in his book titled Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.

According to the notice titled “Nigerians Refuse to Be SILENCED,” the protests will be held simultaneously at multiple locations, including Afe Babalola Chambers in Lagos, the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, the Ekiti Police Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, and King’s College Campus in London, United Kingdom.

The group, alongside other human rights organizations, is also urging King’s College to revoke the naming of its Afe Babalola Centre for Transnational Education and return the donation made by the legal luminary.

Farotimi’s arrest followed a petition by Afe Babalola, alleging that the activist defamed his character in the book. In the book, Farotimi accused Babalola and his law firm of compromising the Supreme Court to secure fraudulent client judgments. The complainant labelled these claims as false and alarming.

Farotimi was arraigned at the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court in case number MAD/1,476.C/2024, with charges including:

1. Publishing statements in his book that alleged corruption involving Aare Afe Babalola and the Supreme Court, likely to cause public fear and alarm.
2. Accusing Babalola’s law firm of compromising the integrity of the Supreme Court, thereby disturbing public peace.