On December 9, 2024, the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, granted human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi bail in the sum of ₦50 million. The court stipulated that the bail must be secured with a surety of equal value who possesses landed property. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi faces charges of criminal defamation following a petition by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola. The allegations stem from claims made in Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,” where he accused Babalola of corrupting the Supreme Court in a land dispute case.
The bail decision was communicated by Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, via his social media platform. Sowore expressed that the bail was a significant step, referring to it as “the first hurdle was crossed.”
The case has attracted attention from various human rights groups and activists, with some planning protests in Lagos, Abuja, and Ekiti states to demand Farotimi’s release. They argue that his arrest and subsequent prosecution violate his rights and democratic freedoms.
In response to the allegations, Afe Babalola has justified the legal action against Farotimi, stating that his reputation was maligned in the book.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, with the next hearing scheduled for January 29, 2025. The outcome of the case could have significant implications for freedom of expression and the press in Nigeria.
