Olusegun Ariyo
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has called on Nigerians to allow the courts to do justice in determining the criminal defamation charges brought against a legal practitioner by the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.
The charges followed the complaint lodged at the Ekiti Police Command by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and elder statesman, Chief Afe Babalola, alleging that the content of the 104-page book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice’ authored by Farotimi defamed him.
Urban Express News Online reports that while the petitioner lives in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, the author, Farotimi, lives in Lagos where he was arrested and immediately moved to Ekiti.
The petitioner is of the view that the book which recently went viral can be read anywhere in the world, including Ekiti State where he resides, therefore, damaging his reputation.
Farotimi, a popular Nigerian activist was on Monday, arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.
The presiding judge, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun declined his bail request and remanded him in prison custody until December 10.
A cross-section of Nigerians has concluded plans to stage a mega protest in Lagos State, the Federal Capital Territory and Ekiti State on December 10 to demand his immediate release.
However, according to the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Comrade Jare Ajayi, “the legal system provides an opportunity for parties in a dispute to prove their cases.”
Afenifere was of the strong opinion that the interests of both parties and the general public “must be protected and justice dispensed fairly.”
Ajayi, in a statement, added that “the court is in the best position to determine how these interests are protected, and to ensure that the prosecution is conducted in a manner that better serves the interest of justice.”
Afenifere enjoined all parties to avoid statements and actions that may lead to a breach of peace while calling on the government to ensure a total observance of the rule of law.
Afenifere was of the view that the appropriate forum to determine whose rights had been breached and how was the court of law as established by the Nigerian constitution.
“We enjoin all parties to conduct themselves in total submission to and respect for the rule of law”, the spokesman added.
