Ahead of the planned protest scheduled for Tuesday over the arrest and remand of a human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, the Ekiti state police command, has banned any form of protest and demonstrations in the state.

Farotimi who had since been remanded in prison custody by an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate court was arrested last Tuesday in Lagos by operatives of the state police command over allegations of defamation against him.

He was accused of defaming a renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti(ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola, SAN in his book titled, ? Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System? where he alleged that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his clients.

However, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general election, Omoyele Sowore and human rights activists are calling for protests in Lagos, Abuja and Ado Ekiti on Tuesday, 10 December, the same day the court slated for the hearing of bail application filed by Farotimi?s legal team.

But the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Sunday Abutu in a statement on Friday, said the decision to ban all forms of ?illegal? protest and gatherings was to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state.

He said, ?Any form of unlawful gathering, demonstration or protest is unacceptable as the intelligence report available has it that some unscrupulous individuals have planned to hide under this protest to hijack it and unleash mayhem and create apprehension in the state.

?The Command, under the leadership of CP Akinwale Kunle Adeniran, is assuring everyone of adequate security during and after this Ember months period while seeking for more support, collaboration and obedience to law and order.

?In view of this, the Command, to sustain the peace, Parents and Guardians are therefore implored to advise their wards to shun any act that is inimical to the peace and security of the State, as anyone who runs foul of this directive will be dealt with in accordance with the law.?

Apart from banning protests, the police have also announced a ban on the use of fireworks in the state during the Yuletide period and beyond, noting that the ?use of the various fireworks at times creates panic and confusion as it could be difficult to differentiate their sounds from the real gunshot sound.? (Nigerian Tribune)

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