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Dele Farotimi Granted Bail in Defamation Case

Written by Jerry Alomatu on December 9, 2024

News Views: 227

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, in a defamation case filed by renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN). Farotimi was arrested in Lagos last Tuesday and brought to Ado-Ekiti for trial.

The case stems from allegations in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he accused Babalola of corrupting the Supreme Court to obtain fraudulent judgments for his clients.

Farotimi’s claims, outlined in the book’s foreword, also accused Babalola’s law firm, S.B. Joseph & Co., of tampering with court records to procure an execution warrant and compromising the judiciary’s integrity.

Farotimi was granted bail with conditions: N50 million with a surety in the same amount, who must provide landed property as collateral. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025.

In addition to the defamation case, the Ekiti State Police Command has filed new cybercrime charges against Farotimi. The 12-count charge alleges that Farotimi knowingly transmitted false information in an online interview regarding the defamation allegations against Babalola, which was broadcast on Seun Okinbaloye’s “Mic On” podcast in August 2024.

Farotimi is accused of intentionally spreading misinformation to cause a breakdown of law and order, an offense punishable under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.