HURIWA demands justice for Dele Farotimi, Fisayo Soyombo

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for the immediate release of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi and investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, condemning their recent arrests as part of an escalating campaign to silence dissent in the country.

The group has also called for a thorough investigation into the military’s alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering, a matter raised in Soyombo’s ongoing investigation.

HURIWA expressed deep concern over the detention of Dele Farotimi, who was arrested by the Nigeria Police Force at Zone 2, Lagos, after facing allegations stemming from defamation petitions filed by Tony Elumelu, Chairman of the UBA Group, and Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. Farotimi, a known critic of corruption and human rights abuses, was detained under what the group described as a politically motivated attack aimed at intimidating outspoken individuals.

In addition, HURIWA condemned the three-day detention of Soyombo by the Nigerian Army, which the group linked to his investigative reporting into the alleged involvement of security personnel in oil bunkering activities. HURIWA argued that these arrests reflect a growing hostility toward journalists and human rights defenders, as the country’s civic space continues to shrink.

HURIWA questioned whether Nigeria is still a functioning democracy or if it has slipped into an authoritarian regime.

“The continued arrests of lawyers, journalists, and human rights defenders for merely fulfilling their constitutional duties is a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy,” the organization stated in its official release.

The group reiterated that both Farotimi and Soyombo are exercising their fundamental rights to free speech and press freedom and should not be targeted for doing so. HURIWA warned that the use of state power to target dissenters threatens the very essence of Nigeria’s democratic principles.

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The association also pointed to Soyombo’s findings that suggest a deep level of corruption within the military, particularly its alleged involvement in illegal oil bunkering. HURIWA has called for an independent investigation into these claims, urging President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action.

“Why is the government more focused on arresting journalists than addressing the corruption they expose?” the group asked, highlighting the potential national security and economic risks posed by military complicity in illegal activities. “If the president is not complicit, he must act decisively to investigate these allegations and ensure transparency,” the statement emphasized.

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HURIWA also expressed concerns that the government’s aggressive stance against critics may be linked to fears of internal unrest within the military. The association questioned whether the state’s heavy-handed approach was designed to suppress any potential challenges to the government’s authority within the armed forces.

“If the government is not afraid of a coup, why is it afraid to investigate the military’s involvement in oil bunkering?” HURIWA asked. The association warned that such fear-based governance only leads to further repression, undermining the nation’s democracy and stability.