LAGOS— Nigerian civil rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has accused the federal government of undermining democratic principles through its handling of peaceful protests and alleged judicial overreach.

In an interview on Tuesday, Farotimi said the repeated use of police force to disperse non-violent demonstrators, as well as court-imposed restrictions on public assembly, suggest that Nigeria is “mimicking democracy” rather than practicing it.

His remarks followed a protest in Abuja on Monday, where demonstrators led by activist Omoyele Sowore called for the release of detained separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu. The protest, organized under the #FreeNnamdiKanu campaign, was dispersed by security operatives using teargas. Protesters had defied police warnings and a court order restricting public gatherings.

“In a democracy, there should never be a need for police permission before a protest,” Farotimi said. “The police are meant to provide security, not approve protests. When courts begin restricting peaceful demonstrations, it signals a deviation from democratic norms.”

Farotimi criticized the Nigerian Police Force and the judiciary, arguing that both institutions have been compromised. “It’s absurd that citizens would need permission from their paid employees before gathering peacefully,” he said. “Our judiciary is unfit for purpose. It now functions more as an extension of the executive branch than an independent arbiter.”

He also referenced his own legal experiences, including being prosecuted under what he described as a “non-existent law,” as evidence of a dysfunctional legal system.

Farotimi further expressed skepticism about the government’s willingness to engage with public demands, citing the 2020 #EndSARS protests as an example. He argued that the subsequent rebranding of the police unit from SARS to SWAT was a superficial change that did not address the root issues.

“They changed the name, but not the character. The Nigerian state changes nothing for anyone; it’s not interested in pleasing those who call themselves citizens,” he said.

Farotimi concluded by saying he no longer participates in protests, calling them ineffective under the current political climate. “I don’t join protests anymore because I know they’re merely speaking to the deaf. The Nigerian state doesn’t listen,” he said.