NDC STATEMENT ON COURT RULING. (PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE.

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 NDC STATEMENT ON COURT RULING Our attention has been drawn to a ruling by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja this morning, wherein His Lordship, Honourable Justice Isah Dashen, gave a ruling on an application filed by an unregistered association known as Peace Movement Party. The public knows that by December 2025, the Nigeria Democratic Congress  as an association complained of INEC’s refusal to register us as a political party, whereupon we proceeded to the Federal High Court. The Federal High Court upheld our constitutional right to freedom of association under the Constitution and compelled INEC to register us, which INEC did. Since then, we have started political activities, embarked on the registration of members, held congresses from ward to national levels, held conventions, and concluded primaries to all offices following INEC’s timetable. We have been fully participating in all INEC activities without let or hindrance. NDC also fielded candidates, and fully pa...

CSO COALITION CALLS FOR DISMISSAL OF CHARGES AGAINST FAROTIMI, DEEMS HIS ARREST UNCONSTITUTIONAL. (PHOTO).


 CSO Coalition Calls for Dismissal of Charges Against Farotimi, Deems His Arrest Unconstitutional


A coalition of over eighty civil society groups and non-governmental organizations has strongly condemned the arrest, detention, and mistreatment of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, who is accused of defaming legal expert Afe Babalola. The coalition has demanded that the police drop all charges against Farotimi and release him without conditions.


The coalition described Farotimi's arrest as a violation of his rights, stating that the activist should not have been treated as a criminal in a case involving civil defamation, as outlined in Section 4 of the Police Act of 2020. The group expressed concern over the aggressive and confrontational nature of the arrest, which involved police officers crossing state lines to detain him. CCTV footage from Farotimi's office revealed the unprofessional and violent conduct of the officers.


The statement, issued by Abubakar Mohammed of the 21st Century Community Empowerment for Youth and Women Initiative, further highlighted that criminal defamation is not recognized under Ekiti State's Criminal Law of 2021, nor is it part of the Criminal Code in Lagos, where Farotimi resides. The coalition pointed out that under Section 36(12) of Nigeria’s Constitution, a person cannot be convicted of a criminal offense unless it is clearly defined in written law.


The coalition is calling for the immediate dismissal of charges against Farotimi, urging the Attorney General of Ekiti State to intervene if the police do not act swiftly. They also called for the repeal of all laws supporting criminal defamation in Nigeria and for cases initiated under these laws to be struck out by the courts.


Additionally, the coalition called for the Inspector-General of Police to issue an order prohibiting arrests based on defamation charges and emphasized that individuals who believe their reputations have been harmed by Farotimi's book should seek redress through civil courts. The group urged law enforcement agencies to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect citizens, rather than serving as instruments for silencing dissent.

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