The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has granted bail to human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi, setting the amount at N50 million with a surety of equal value.
This development was shared by Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), who announced the decision on his social media platform today, Monday, 2024.
In his tweets, Sowore referred to Farotimi’s trial as a “farcical” process, emphasizing that the case is based on what he described as a "non-existent offence" under Ekiti State law, revealing that Farotimi’s case had been adjourned to January 29, 2025.
He urged the Ekiti State Attorney-General to discontinue the charges against Farotimi, expressing concern over the legal proceedings.
The legal saga surrounding Farotimi began with his arrest in early December 2024, following allegations of criminal defamation against prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aare Afe Babalola.
Farotimi was remanded in prison custody by an Ado-Ekiti magistrate court on December 7, 2024, after he was charged with 16 counts of criminal defamation.
The charges stemmed from accusations made in his recently published book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, in which he allegedly defamed Babalola.
The book contains critical statements about Babalola’s involvement in a Supreme Court land dispute that has been ongoing for over two decades.
Earlier in a petition submitted to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Akinwale Adeniran, Babalola’s legal team accused Farotimi of falsely alleging that Babalola had corrupted the Supreme Court, leading to miscarriages of justice.
Farotimi’s arrest came after officers from the Lagos State Police Command apprehended him and transported him to Ekiti for arraignment.
The TIB, which advocates for social justice and reforms, has vowed to continue its planned protests in various cities, including Lagos, Abuja, London, and Canada.
The movement’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, has rejected the Ekiti State Police Command’s ban on protests, arguing that the police have no legal grounds to prohibit peaceful demonstrations.
Sanyaolu condemned the police’s actions, particularly their role in Farotimi’s arrest, which he described as an unlawful abduction. “The lawlessness of the Nigeria Police must not go unchecked.
We will not be silenced by threats, and we will continue to protest peacefully against the actions of the police,” he said.
While Farotimi’s supporters push for his immediate release, Babalola’s legal representatives have stated that Farotimi will be granted freedom only if he can substantiate his claims against the elder statesman.
This case has drawn attention to the ongoing tension between the Nigerian government, the police, and civil rights activists, with many questioning the legality of Farotimi’s arrest and the broader implications of his defamation trial.
As the legal battle unfolds, Farotimi’s case remains a focal point for discussions on freedom of expression, the power of the legal system, and the role of civil society in holding powerful individuals accountable.
