The Take It Back Movement has announced plans to proceed with protests in Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, London, and Canada following the arrest of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi on defamation charges.
Despite a ban on public gatherings imposed by the Ekiti State Police Command due to security concerns, the movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, stated that the police lack the legal authority to prohibit peaceful protests.
In a statement by Abutu Sunday, the state police spokesperson, on Friday, the command said, “Any form of unlawful gathering, demonstration, or protest is unacceptable”, adding that intelligence reports indicated plans by some individuals to exploit protests to incite violence and create panic.
In response, Sanyaolu emphasized that the group’s actions would continue as planned, asserting that the police’s attempts to suppress dissent are unlawful.
He said, “The position of the TIB is the same and our action will go on as planned despite the police’s threats.”
“The lawlessness of the Nigeria Police must not be allowed to go unchecked even though we are aware it is their trademark. The police cannot proscribe peaceful protest, that in itself is illegal. We are peacefully challenging in the public space the thuggery of the police officers, under the command of the Ekiti CP, who came all the way from Ekiti to abduct Farotimi in Lagos and assault his staff.
“While we are not against lawful processes, we will not hesitate to point out the conspiracy of the police and the judiciary in this matter. The very title of Farotimi’s book ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ is what is also playing out in our very eyes with the police playing an active role.”
The protests are set for December 10, 2024, to challenge what the movement describes as police impunity and judicial complicity.
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos after a petition from elder statesman Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), who accused him of defamation in his book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.” Following his arraignment in Ado Ekiti, the court ordered Farotimi’s remand until December 10. The police have also filed additional charges against him related to cybercrime stemming from online interviews.
The Take It Back Movement, founded by former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, has called for widespread participation in the protests to confront government oppression.
