The Ekiti Magistrate Court, on Friday, has finally granted the human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, a N30m bail.
According to reports, subject to the bail are conditions which include three sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), submission of his passport, and a prohibition on granting media interviews.
Farotimi’s bail decision came after Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun reserved his ruling on the bail application until December 20, during the previous sitting, and ordered the activist’s remand in prison.
During the court proceedings, Dele entered a plea of not guilty to the 14-count charge brought against him by the police.
His counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, argued that the charge before the court lacked legal basis and that defamation was not a recognized offense under the Ekiti State Criminal Law of 2021.
Earlier Development
Dele Farotimi was abducted in his office in Lekki, Lagos on November 3, 2024, by police of the Rapid Response Squad.
He was allegedly arrested due to his defamatory comment against Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, which was reportedly contained in his recent book.
On Wednesday, December 5, the police arraigned Farotimi before a magistrate court, which granted an order remanding him in prison custody till 10 December.
The arraignment followed the lawsuit filed against Farotimi for defamation, by Are Afe Babalola (SAN).
The lawsuit was titled: “CRIMINAL DEFAMATION OF AARE AFE BABALOLA, AFE BABALOLA & CO AND HER LAWYERS BY DELE FAROTIMI.
The lawsuit read: “I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani.
However, during the last Farotimi’s court proceeding on December 10, his bail application was adjourned till December 20, while he was ordered to remain in prison custody by the Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun.