A coalition of civil society organisations has written to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), asking him to mount pressure on the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to withdraw all the criminal charges filed against human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
The groups also asked the NBA to undertake disciplinary action against Ekiti State Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun for judicial rascality and professional misconduct as a member of the NBA.
The groups also demanded that the NBA must take disciplinary action against Afe Babalola (SAN) and his lawyer including Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN); Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN); Olu Daramola (SAN); Aladesoye (SAN); Lawal Pedro (SAN); Prof. Akinseye George (SAN) and Olu Daramola Esq.
The letter was jointly signed by Com. Francis Nwapa of Youth Rights Campaign (YRC); Com. Lateef Adams of Movement for Socialist Alternative (MSA); Com. Chinedu Bosah of Campaign For Democratic and Workers Right; Com. Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji of Movement for Fundamental Change (MFC); Com. Hassan Taiwo Soweto of Education Rights Campaign (ERC); Com. Tony Akeni of Save Democracy Mega Alliance (SDMA); Rev. Emmanuel him (National Rescue Congress (NRC); Com. M.O Shitu of Good Citizens for Peace and Progress Initiative (GCPPI) and Com. Azikwe Samuel of Obedient Movement Lagos Chapter.
The groups recalled how officers of the Rapid Response Squad of the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force invaded Farotimi law offices at Lekki, Lagos State and whisked him away without any warrant.
He was subsequently taken to Ekiti State.
The group said, “In the aforesaid charges, he is alleged to be circulating information that can cause breakdown of law and order through his book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System”, and “How same impugn the person of Aare Afe Babalola (in respect of the charges at the Magistrate Court) and violating the Cybercrimes Act (in respect of the charges before the Federal High Court).”
The group further stated, “While the Federal High Court has granted him bail, the Magistrate Court per curiam Magistrate Adeosun, his application for bail at the last adjourned date, 10th December, 2024 was adjourned for 10 days till 20th December, 2024, despite being a Court of Summary Trial.
“We are of the considered view that the action of Magistrate Adeosun amounts to judicial rascality and professional misconduct as a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.
“In short, we call for the Nigerian Bar Association to undertake disciplinary action against Magistrate Adeosun.
“We are also of the view that these charges are trumped-up charges instigated by Aare Afe Babalola and his co-travellers to keep a citizen perpetually in custody.”
The groups called for disciplinary action against Afe Babalola, his lawyers and the Magistrate.
“We hereby humbly appeal to your esteemed Office to call on the Attorney General of the Federation to exercise the constitutional powers of his office to take over and discontinue any Criminal Charges in all states of the Federation and discontinue the aforesaid charges against Dele Farotimi by entering ‘nolle prose qui,’” the groups said.
“We hereby give notice that where the charges continue to subsist against Dele Farotimi, we will be left with no choice but to exercise our fundamental rights to peaceful assembly by organizing peaceful demonstrations across different states of Nigeria to seek end to the farcical trial of Dele Farotimi.”
