Human rights activist Dele Farotimi has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Nigerians for their unwavering support during his detention on charges of defamation.
Farotimi, who was accused of “criminal defamation” of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola in his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, was remanded in custody by the Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti for 21 days.
Following a lengthy period in detention, Farotimi regained his freedom on December 24 after meeting strict bail conditions, which included a N30 million bond, two sureties (one being a property owner), surrendering his passport, and agreeing not to grant media interviews upon release.
In a tearful and emotional interview after his release, Farotimi reflected on the immense support he received from Nigerians, who stood by him regardless of their ethnic or religious backgrounds.
He said, “We stop being humans when we allow ourselves to be divided by our ethnicity. Nigerians ignored my background, whether it was my religion or tribe, and spoke up for me. Because you spoke for me, Nigeria could not break me. You found your voices, and together, we could not be silenced.”
