The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has granted human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, bail in the sum of ₦50 million. The court’s decision, announced on Monday, December 9, 2024, comes amid a contentious defamation case that has sparked widespread public and legal debate.
The bail terms include a surety who must own a landed property worth ₦50 million. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings. The development was disclosed by Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle. Sowore described the trial as politically motivated and urged the Ekiti State Attorney-General to withdraw the charges.
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Farotimi faces 16 counts of criminal defamation brought by renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola. The charges are based on claims made in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, where he alleged that Babalola influenced Supreme Court rulings in a protracted land dispute.
Farotimi’s arrest and detention have drawn criticism from civil rights groups, including the Take It Back Movement, which plans protests in Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, London, and Canada to demand his release and denounce what they describe as an abuse of power by law enforcement. The group’s National Coordinator, Juwon Sanyaolu, insists that peaceful protests will proceed despite a police directive banning public gatherings.
Babalola’s legal team has stood by the charges, emphasizing that the case is about protecting the reputation of an elder statesman and the judiciary’s integrity. They have challenged Farotimi to prove his allegations in court.
The case has reignited debates on freedom of speech, judicial independence, and the limits of defamation law in Nigeria, with many watching closely as events unfold.
Source: vanguard News
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