Civil rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has criticised the Nigerian Police Force and the judiciary for what he described as their continued roles in stifling citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
Farotimi said the increasing clampdown on peaceful protests across the country reflects a worrying decline in democratic freedoms, arguing that Nigeria is “only pretending to be a democracy” while operating as an authoritarian state in practice.
Speaking in reaction to recent incidents where protesters were dispersed or arrested by security operatives, Farotimi lamented that the right to peaceful protest — a cornerstone of any true democracy — has been consistently undermined by the state.
What we have in Nigeria is a pretence of democracy. A nation where citizens cannot gather to express dissent or demand accountability is not a democracy. The police and the judiciary, by their actions, have become tools in the suppression of civil liberties.”
He accused the police of routinely interpreting lawful assemblies as threats to public order and the judiciary of failing to protect citizens’ constitutional rights when such cases come before the courts.
The Nigerian Police continue to act as though protest is a crime, while the courts, which should serve as the last hope of the common man, often turn a blind eye. This betrayal of justice emboldens those in power to continue trampling on the people,” he added.
Farotimi argued that the erosion of civic freedoms undercuts the very foundation of Nigeria’s democracy and called for urgent institutional reforms to restore confidence in law enforcement and the judicial system.
He also urged Nigerians not to surrender their right to peaceful expression, emphasizing that protest remains a legitimate means of demanding accountability and social justice.
No nation can progress where the voices of its people are silenced. The right to protest is not a privilege granted by government; it is a constitutional right that defines a free society.”
Farotimi, a long-time advocate for good governance and police reform, has been vocal on issues of civil rights, corruption, and state accountability. His comments come amid renewed public debate over the shrinking civic space in Nigeria and the frequent deployment of security forces to disperse peaceful demonstrations.
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