Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has condemned the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and others for allegedly visiting legal luminary Afe Babalola to plead on behalf of human activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
The New Daily Prime had reported that Farotimi was arrested at his Lagos chambers over allegations of defaming Babalola in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’
Following his arrest, Farotimi was arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ekiti State and remanded at a correctional facility.
He was later granted bail of N50 million yesterday by a Federal High Court court. Justice Kuewumi adjourned the case to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.

However, reports indicate that the former Anambra State Governor appealed to Babalola, urging him to show mercy and consider Farotimi’s circumstances.
Reacting to Obi’s actions, Sowore, the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, expressed disappointment.
In a statement posted on his X page yesterday, he condemned Obi and others who visited Babalola, accusing them of undermining efforts to combat judicial corruption in Nigeria.
Sowore likened Obi’s actions to compelling Rosa Parks to return to the back of the bus during the civil rights movement in the United States, describing it as a betrayal of the fight for justice.
The founder of online news agency, Sahara Reporters, said: “I condemn those who went to “beg” Chief Afe Babalola today over the unjust detention and persecution of Dele Farotimi; the delegation led by Peter Obi 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.”