Human rights advocate, Dele Farotimi, credited the collective support of Nigerians for his release following his recent arrest and detention.
Speaking via YouTube and social media platform X on Sunday, Farotimi became emotional as he recounted how public outcry shielded him during his ordeal.
“We stopped being human because we became Nigerians.
They divided us, and we fell for it,” Farotimi remarked.
He praised the solidarity displayed by Nigerians, saying, “Because you wouldn’t see me as a Yoruba man, you spoke for me.
Because you wouldn’t see me as a Christian, you spoke for me.
Nigeria couldn’t happen to me because you spoke.”
Farotimi further emphasized the transformative power of unity in combating oppression, declaring, “You found your voices.
I became you.
And in our collective, you couldn’t be silenced.”
Farotimi was arrested on December 3 by officers from the Ekiti State Police Command over allegations of defamation and cyberbullying.
The charges arose from claims made in his book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System”, where he alleged that Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Aare Afe Babalola and others had influenced Supreme Court Justices corruptly.
Following his arrest, Farotimi was arraigned in an Ekiti State Magistrate Court and later faced additional charges filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at a Federal High Court in Ekiti.
On December 21, he was granted bail under strict conditions, including a ₦30 million bond, two sureties (one owning property), surrender of his passport, and a media gag.
Despite his ordeal, Farotimi remained defiant, insisting on his innocence.
Addressing journalists, he said, “It is not ever an easy journey when you are fighting evil.
Some years back, before I started this work, God told me that the truth is enough.
It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria.”
He added, “In my war against the evil empire that we all live in, I have never lied against anyone.
If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know.”
Farotimi’s case has highlighted the growing role of public unity and activism in addressing systemic challenges in Nigeria.
