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An Ekiti State Magistrate Court has granted N50m bail to Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, in the alleged defamation suit filed by legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Former Presidential Candidate for African Action Congress (AAC) in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, shared the development on his X handle on Monday.
The matter was adjourned till January 29, 2025.
“Dele Farotimi was granted bail of N50 million naira surety in the like sum with someone with landed property. The case was adjourned to 29 January 2025,” Sowore posted.
The hearing which was previously adjourned till December 10 was moved to December 9 amid threats by rights groups including the Take it Back Movement to stage protests in Ekiti, Lagos, Abuja, London and Canada, tomorrow.
Farotimi, who was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday by operatives of the Ekiti state police command, was arraigned on Wednesday on a 16-court charge of defamation of character.
He was accused of maligning and defaming the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book titled, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged that Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the supreme court, thereby exposing him to hatred, contempt, and ridicule.
When the charges were read to him, Farotimi denied all 16 counts.
Following his plea, police prosecutor, Samson Osun, asked the court to order his remand in prison pending further investigation.
Counsel to the defendant, Dayo Akeredolu, opposed the notion and pleaded with the court to admit him to bail on liberal terms on the grounds that the defendant does not constitute any threat.
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned the hearing till December 10.
