UBA Speaks On Purported Involvement Of Tony Elumelu In Dele Farotimi’s Arrest

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has denied any involvement of its chairman, Tony Elumelu, in the arrest of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, by the Nigerian police.

Naijaonpoint reported that Farotimi was arrested on Tuesday over a petition by Tony Elumelu of UBA Group alleging that the human rights advocate defamed him.

A 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, hinted about Farotimi’s arrest in a post via his official X handle on Tuesday.

However, a top source in UBA who spoke with SaharaReporters stated that Elumelu had no hand in Farotimi’s arrest and never authorised the police to arrest anyone.

The source said, “Tony Elumelu has no hand in Dele’s arrest.”

Farotimi had earlier claimed that operatives of the Nigeria Police Force had devised a scheme to abduct him from Lagos.

Farotimi accused the Police of employing dubious tactics to entice him into an arrest despite his compliance with an invitation from the Zone 2 police headquarters in Lagos.

Naijaonpoint reports that Farotimi disclosed this during a press conference held on Monday. The public affairs analyst stated that the police are responding to a petition purportedly submitted by Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN).