A Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has granted human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi bail in the sum of ₦30 million, following his arrest over allegations of cybercrime. The charges stemmed from a petition filed by legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
The court’s decision on Friday morning came days after an earlier application for bail was denied. The new bail conditions require Farotimi to provide two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner. Additionally, the court ordered the defendant to surrender his passport to the court registrar and refrain from granting media interviews during the case proceedings.
The charges, outlined in suit no. MAD/1,476.C/2024, were brought by the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police against Farotimi. They revolve around statements made in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The prosecution alleges that Farotimi published defamatory content in the book, including claims that Chief Afe Babalola and his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co, engaged in corrupt practices to influence judgments at the Supreme Court. Excerpts cited in the charge state that Farotimi accused Babalola of “corrupting the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients” and “compromising the Supreme Court, plunging it into corruption and shameful self-abnegation.”
The prosecution argued that these statements were false, aimed at causing public alarm, and violated Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
Farotimi has denied the charges, maintaining that his statements were intended to highlight flaws in Nigeria’s justice system. Despite the serious allegations, the court ruled that the human rights lawyer was entitled to bail, provided he meets the stringent conditions set by the court.
The case continues to generate public interest, given its implications for freedom of expression, the legal profession, and the judiciary’s integrity. Farotimi’s next court appearance is yet to be scheduled.
This case is expected to set a significant legal precedent as it unfolds.
