A magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti has granted human rights activist Dele Farotimi bail in the sum of N30 million.
The ruling, delivered by Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun on Friday, includes conditions requiring two sureties, described as “responsible citizens,” and the surrender of Farotimi’s international passport to the court. Additionally, Farotimi is prohibited from granting media interviews while the case is ongoing.
Farotimi faces accusations of “criminally defaming” Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in his book ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
Before the bail decision, Magistrate Adeosun ruled that Olumide Fusika, Farotimi’s lead counsel and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), be prohibited from appearing in the court. This decision was based on Section 9 of the Magistrates’ Courts Law 2014.
Farotimi has pleaded not guilty to the defamation charges and is concurrently facing trial in two courts over alleged defamation of Babalola. Earlier, on December 9, the Federal High Court in Ekiti had granted Farotimi bail in the amount of N50 million with one surety, following a 12-count charge of cybercrime brought against him by the Inspector-General of Police.
Frances Ibiefo