Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has pledged to sue those responsible for his arrest and detention stemming from the now-withdrawn defamation case involving senior lawyer Afe Babalola (SAN).

Farotimi was arrested in Lagos last December and transported to Ekiti, where he was charged with defaming Babalola in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. He was remanded for 21 days by an Ekiti Magistrate Court before Babalola withdrew the case, following interventions by traditional rulers and prominent figures including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Matthew Kukah.

Appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Farotimi expressed his determination to seek redress. “You can be certain of one thing: some people will account for my incarceration,” he said, adding that the matter would now be settled in court.

He clarified that, while the criminal suit has been withdrawn, he plans to file a civil lawsuit. Asked whom he intended to sue, Farotimi said, “My lawyers will decide who is responsible… whether it’s the police, the magistrate, or the petitioners somebody will explain.”

Farotimi also pointed out that he was not involved in the mediation that led to Babalola’s withdrawal of the case, emphasizing that he never sought such interventions.