The Chief Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, is hearing a defamation case involving Afe Babalola (SAN) and Lagos-based human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.
Afe Babalola alleged that certain sections of Farotimi’s 104-page book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice, were defamatory and petitioned the police for action.
Following the petition, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos last Tuesday and arraigned at the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti on charges of defamation.
The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti granted bail to Farotimi on Monday in a separate suit filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged cybercrime.
Farotimi arrived at the court premises in a police van, accompanied by correctional officials, shortly before 10:00 a.m.
During the arraignment last week, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordered Farotimi’s remand in a correctional facility and adjourned the case until December 10 to hear the bail application.
Today, Farotimi was granted bail set at ₦50 million with a surety of equal amount, who must own a landed property in Ekiti State. Additionally, Farotimi’s travel passport was ordered to be submitted to the court.
Meanwhile, human rights activist Omoyele Sowore had announced plans for protests on December 10 in Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, and at King’s College, London, in support of Farotimi. However, as of this morning, there are no signs of the protest taking place in Ado-Ekiti.