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Farotimi: Take It Back Movement defies police, insists on protest

The Take It Back Movement, on Sunday, reaffirmed its commitment to the planned protests in Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, London, and Canada, despite a directive by the Ekiti State Police Command for a rethink on the demonstration.
The command, citing concerns over public safety and security threats, had said “any form of unlawful gathering, demonstration, or protest would not be tolerated .
However, the National Coordinator of Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, insisted that the police lacked a legal basis to ban peaceful protests.
“The position of the TIB is the same, and our action will go on as planned despite the police’s threats,” Sanyaolu told journalists on Sunday.
“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.”
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The protests are in response to the detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, who was arrested and arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrates Court on allegations of defaming elder statesman Aare Afe Babalola (SAN). Farotimi’s lawyer had pleaded for bail, but the Chief Magistrate ordered him remanded until December 10, 2024.
The police have also filed fresh charges against Farotimi at a federal high court in Ado-Ekiti, centering on cybercrime allegations picked from the activist’s online interviews. According to the police, Farotimi appeared on Mic On Podcast, where he accused Babalola of corrupting the judiciary.
Sanyaolu emphasized that the movement would not hesitate to point out the conspiracy of the police and the judiciary in the 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,” he said.
The Take It Back Movement’s determination to proceed with the protests despite the police ban has sparked concerns over potential clashes between protesters and security forces. However, Sanyaolu remains resolute, stating that the movement would peacefully challenge the police’s actions in the public space.
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