No-Show in Abuja: Protesters MIA Despite Bold Claims by Farotimi Supporters

By Achimi Muktar

The much-anticipated protest in support of embattled human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, at the Ministry of Justice in Abuja was a no-show as protesters failed to materialize on Tuesday morning.

Despite the Take It Back Movement's widespread call for nationwide and global demonstrations, the ministry's premises remained quiet, save for the noticeable presence of security operatives deployed to maintain peace. The protest was scheduled to kick off at 7 AM, but as of this report, there was no sign of the crowd organizers had promised.

The rally, planned in defiance of police warnings, was intended to voice opposition against what the organizers termed "oppressive actions" in the Nigerian judiciary. A viral flier shared on the group's official X (formerly Twitter) handle urged Nigerians to stand firm, stating, “Refuse to be silenced.”

In a fiery one-minute video posted online, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore amplified the call for action, declaring, “An unjust act of oppression cannot stand, no matter how ‘well presented.’ On December 10, 2024... the power of the people will confront those intoxicated by power!”

The protest follows the ongoing legal battle between Farotimi and Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. Babalola accused Farotimi of defamation stemming from allegations in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, and comments made during a podcast appearance. Farotimi, who accused the elder statesman of corrupting the judiciary, was arrested in Lagos and arraigned in Ekiti last week.

As tensions rise, the Justice for Afe Babalola Legacy (JABL) group has issued stern warnings against planned demonstrations in Abuja, Lagos, and Ekiti, cautioning that protesters could face "dire consequences."

While the Take It Back Movement boasted of simultaneous rallies in cities like Lagos, London, and Toronto, Abuja’s glaring silence raises questions about the momentum of the protest or whether fear of retaliation dampened turnout.

For now, all eyes are on the other locations as Nigerians await signs of the promised "power of the people."