Dele Farotimi’s arrest: Police must not serve as tool for oppression – Idam

According to activist attorney Maduabuchi Idam, the use of police to resolve civil cases is archaic.

Idam responded to the arrest of human rights attorney Dele Farotimi by saying that Nigerians shouldn’t be subjected to harassment and oppression by the police.

After Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group, filed a defamation petition, members of the Nigeria Police Force from Zone 2 Command in Lagos picked up Farotimi.
Farotimi had voiced worries the day before the incident about purported threats against his life made by powerful individuals in Nigerian politics.

Idam responded by saying that anyone who feels wronged by a civil wrong should go to court to get their issue resolved.

“It is interesting to discover that the Nigeria Police is less busy even with the task of combating the myriad of security challenges wrestling with defenseless citizens of Nigeria,” Idam wrote in a statement he signed.

The fact that Mr. Dele Farotimi was arrested for allegedly libel, a clear civil wrong, instead proves that the Nigerian police are indifferent to the country’s security issues.

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The Supreme Court has issued a warning against the practice of utilizing the police to persecute innocent persons over civil matters in a number of cases. Regretfully, the police have consistently disregarded every caution against getting involved in civil cases.

“Instead of getting involved in civil disputes or trying to use coercive powers to get involved in contractual disagreements, the Inspector General of Police should refocus the Police Force on fighting crimes and protecting people and property.”

“A person who alleges defamation must go to a court of law, not a police station, to seek redress.”

“Using the police to settle civil disputes is not only archaic, but it is also incompatible with civility.”