In a defamation case brought by Aare Afe Babalola, a federal high court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has granted bail to human rights attorney Dele Farotimi.
The 2023 African Action Congress, AAC, presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, announced the development on his X (Twitter) handle on Monday.
Sowore stated that Farotimi was granted N50 million bail with a surety in the same amount, who must provide landed property as collateral. The case has been adjourned to 29 January 2025.
Background
Last Tuesday, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and brought to Ado-Ekiti to face trial for allegedly defaming renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
Farotimi had alleged in the book that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his clients.
Farotimi outlined 10 claims in the foreword of his book, alleging corruption and malpractice involving Babalola, his law firm, and other legal professionals. Some key excerpts from the book include accusations that:
Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure fraudulent judgments for his clients.
The law firm of S.B. Joseph & Co. doctored the Supreme Court’s original judgment to obtain an execution warrant.
Justice Atilade unlawfully issued and later quashed the fraudulent warrant.
Babalola and his associates compromised the judiciary, tarnishing its integrity.
The Nigerian justice system is fundamentally criminal and complicit, incapable of upholding true justice.
Babalola denied all allegations, claiming they were deliberate falsehoods intended to damage his reputation and the legacy of his law firm, established in 1965.
He demanded the recovery of all copies of the book from circulation.
Fresh 12-count charge
Meanwhile, the Police, Ekiti State Command, filed fresh charges against Dele Farotimi on Friday.
The fresh 12-count charge filed before a federal high court in Ado-Ekiti borders on cybercrime allegations.
The charge reads: “That you Dele Farotimi’m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on ‘Mic On’ podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube channel in respect of a book authored and published by you titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” wherein you stated in the interview that “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary,” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing the breakdown of law and order, thereby thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 as amended.”
