Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised Peter Obi’s visit to legal icon Afe Babalola in connection with the ongoing defamation case against Dele Farotimi.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sowore expressed his disapproval of the visit, calling it a betrayal of the fight against judicial malpractice. He wrote:
“I condemn those who went to ‘beg’ Chief Afe Babalola today over the unjust detention and persecution of @DeleFarotimi; the delegation led by @PeterObi did colossal injustice to the struggle to drain the swamp of judicial criminality in our country. Obi’s action is like forcing Rosa Parks to return to the back of the bus of racial injustice during the civil rights era in the US! The struggle continues! #RevolutionNow #FreeDeleFarotimiNow.”
Sowore’s remarks highlight the growing tensions surrounding Farotimi’s case, which has sparked debates about judicial integrity and freedom of expression in Nigeria. Many activists and legal practitioners have criticised the prosecution of Farotimi, viewing it as an attack on opposition and a misuse of the judicial process.
Farotimi, a human rights lawyer and author, is facing defamation charges over statements made in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Judicial System. The trial has drawn widespread attention, with public figures rallying to his defence.
While Obi’s visit was reportedly aimed at fostering dialogue, it has been met with mixed reactions, particularly among those advocating for systemic reforms within Nigeria’s judiciary.
