Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has spoken out against the abduction of lawyer Dele Farotimi, criticizing the role of Afe Babalola in the police action.

Adeyanju’s condemnation comes amid concerns over the involvement of powerful individuals in the suppression of dissenting voices in Nigeria.

According to earlier reports, Farotimi was abducted from his home in Lagos by the Nigerian police and transported to Ekiti, over a defamation issue.

Reacting to this, Adeyanju expressed dismay over the abduction. He lamented the state of the country, citing the involvement of prominent legal figure Afe Babalola in the police action against Farotimi.

Adeyanju’s post read, “Police kidnapped a lawyer from Lagos & drove him all the way to Ekiti over a defamation issue & you all wonder why Nigeria is cursed. And this petition was done by a sage in the legal profession, our very own Baba Afe Babalola. May we not descend this low in old age.”

Revealing that Babalola had previously threatened to shoot lawyers at a law firm over a defamation issue, Adeyanju added, “Shame! Threatened to shoot lawyers in the law firm over a libel issue. This country is genuinely gone.”

Human rights activist and convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, had earlier described the abduction of Dele Farotimi, by operatives of the Nigeria Police and hiding of his whereabouts as despicable.

Sowore, who said this after confirming from Farotimi’s family that his whereabouts still remained unknown, demanded immediate release of the human rights lawyer.

Sowore said, “I have just spoken to the family of Dele Farotimi, and they stated his whereabouts are unknown to them since a contingent of Police officers raided his home and abducted him earlier today from Lagos after seizing the mobile devices of everyone present.

“They raised suspicion that his current ordeal might have been as a result of efforts by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN who had laid siege on him since last week, tracking his every move using Nigeria Police Force from the Ekiti Command.  

“Last week, Dele Farotimi said he was invited twice to answer petitions written against him by UBA Group owner, Tony Elumelu at the Zone 2 police formation in Lagos. 

“Today his location is unknown and the Nigeria police is yet to reveal what happened to him. 

“Let’s reiterate that it is despicable on the part of the Nigeria Police to engage in abuse and repression of citizens freely expressing themselves. #FreeDeleFarotimi NOW!”