Executive Director, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), Adewale Adeoye and Chairman, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), Lanre Suraj, yesterday, urged the Ekiti State Magistrate’s Court to grant Dele Farotimi bail over his current trial on alleged defamation of Afe Babalola.

They also expressed concerns over the manner the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) got itself involved in the arrest and hurried arraignment of the rights activist, Farotimi.

The duo, in separate interactions with The Guardian, said the NPF ought not to have allowed itself to be used by any influential Nigerian to carry out justice outside the legal principles and constitution.

Adeoye said that though nobody is above the law and that any Nigerian could be arrested if found wanting, “the worrisome aspect of Farotimi’s arrest was the procedure through which the police carried out his arrest.”

Suraj, on his part, said that even though it is understandable that defamation is a serious offence against anyone, it is, however, a bailable offence.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) has condemned the unjust arrest and subsequent detention of Farotimi over an alleged case of defamation.

The group described the police and judiciary’s actions as an abuse of the rule of law, saying such a posture is an aberration and brings to the fore the dark era of the military.

In a statement by Dr Joseph Oteri, the association said the invasion of his law firm and harassment of his members of staff is a clear abuse of their fundamental human rights as guaranteed in Nigeria’s Constitution.

Relatedly, the Labour Party (LP) caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned the arrest and detention of the lawyer.

The caucus, led by Afam Ogene, called for judicial neutrality, impartiality and fair-hearing in the contentious defamation case brought against him by Babalola.

Also, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, has described as unjustifiable the remand of Farotimi.

The Yoruba group, while calling for the immediate release of Farotimi, said that the offence for which the rights lawyer was arrested is bailable, hence the infringement on his right.