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…Demands immediate release
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BY JUDE OSSAI / ENUGU
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A human rights group known as “Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN)” has condemned in its entirety the arrest and subsequent remand of Dele Farotimi, saying it is unconstitutional and violation of the rule of law.
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In a statement issued on Wednesday by the President of CRRAN, Olu Omotayo, tiltled: “Prison of Dele Farotimu Esq; Courts Continue To Act As An Appendage Of The Nigeria Police Spells Doom For Human Rights And Democracy In Nigeria”, the group “urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to urgently save the citizens from the dangerous route the courts in Nigeria are plying.”
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Parts of the statement read:
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“As economy continues to worsen in the country, so also the observance of the Rule of Law and Respect for Human Rights of the citizens continue to worsen as courts in the country now operate as an appendage or extension of the Nigeria Police.
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“We just heard in the news that Dele Farotimi Esq. after his abduction in Lagos was arraigned in Court today in Ekiti State and remanded in prison. Farotimi was alleged to have made defamatory remarks against Afe Babalola and Tony Elumelu in his recent publication.
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“We condemn the arrest, detention and remand of Farotimi Esq. as it is unconstitutional and violates the Rule of Law. We demand immediate release of Farotimi Esq. from the unconstitutional detention”, they added.
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“The hard earned constitutional guaranteed rights of citizens are gradually being filtered away by the courts and this calls for urgent attention.”
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“In the famous Arthur Nwankwos’ Case the Court of Appeal held that Sedition or Criminal Defamation was a law used by our colonial masters to subjugate the locals and there should be nothing like criminal defamation in a democratic set up, as there are enough redress available for government or agrieved citizen under the law of libel.
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“It is unfortunate that since over a year ago at the advent of this government the number of citizens arrested and detained for Criminal Defamation had surpassed what happened in any of the previous democratic governments in Nigeria.
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“In the case of ARTHUR NWANKWO V THE STATE (1985) 6 NCLR 228, Nwankwo who was a gubernatorial candidate in Anambra state, in 1982, was alleged to have attacked the governor, Jim Nwobodo, in the book he published titled ‘HOW JIM NWOBODO RULES ANAMBRA STATE’.He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the offences of ‘publishing seditious publication’ and ‘distributing seditious publications.
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“He went on appeal. The Court of Appeal discharged and acquitted him and held inter alia that although the book sharply criticizes the government, it was indeed healthy in a true democracy. Hon Justice Belgore held that the charge against the appellant / accused was inconsistent with sections 36 and 41 of the then1979 Constitution.
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“It is therefore surprising that over 40, years after, our society and development is being dragged back to give effect to what was condemned by the Judiciary over 40 years ago.
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