Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria, has expressed deep concern over the detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, describing it as a grave injustice.
In a tweet commemorating International Human Rights Day, Atiku criticized Farotimi’s incarceration, asserting that it was not for any legitimate offense but for his persistent advocacy for human rights and his courage in “speaking truth to power.”
His words: “Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and tireless advocate for human rights, now languishes in prison custody not for any crime but for the supposed “crime” of persistently speaking truth to power.
“His only offense lies in his unflinching commitment to exposing the truths that the government and its collaborators would rather remain hidden.
“More troubling still is the fact that he is detained and prosecuted under the guise of a law that does not even exist in Ekiti State.
“His plight serves as a poignant reflection of the pervasive climate of impunity and the blatant violation of citizens’ rights that has become all too common in Nigeria.
“Yet, perhaps the most alarming of all is the weaponization of the cyberbullying law, which is being used as a tool to harass, intimidate, and silence dissenting voices in the opposition and the press.”
Atiku also called on leaders across all levels of government to uphold their constitutional duty to protect citizens’ rights, stressing that such commitment is essential for the growth and sustainability of democracy in the country.
