Dele Farotimi Granted N50m Bail in Defamation Case
Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court after being detained on defamation charges.
Farotimi’s arrest was sparked by allegations made in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, which accused Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, of influencing the Supreme Court to secure fraudulent judgments for his clients.
Babalola, 95, claimed that Farotimi’s statements were false and malicious, damaging his reputation and character. Following his arrest by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command, Farotimi was taken to court and subsequently granted bail in the sum of N50 million, with a surety of the same amount.
The court’s ruling stipulates that the surety must possess a landed property. The case has been adjourned until January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi’s arrest and detention had sparked widespread outrage, prompting civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association to advocate for his release.
Many have argued that the charges against Farotimi are an attempt to silence him and stifle free speech.
