Court grants Dele Farotimi N30m bail in ‘defamation’ case

A magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti has granted N30 million bail to Dele Farotimi, human rights activist.

Abayomi Adeosun, the magistrate, ruled on Farotimi’s bail application on Friday.

The bail conditions include two sureties, who are “responsible citizens in the society”, with the defendant asked to leave his international passport with the court.

Farotimi would also not grant media interviews during the pendency of the case.

The police had accused Farotimi of “criminally defaming” Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in a book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

Before the bail ruling, Adeosun ruled that Olumide Fusika, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Farotimi’s lead counsel, is prohibited from appearing before the court.

The magistrate cited section 9 of the Magistrate’s Courts Law 2014 to back his decision.

The activist has pleaded not guilty to the defamation charge.

Farotimi is currently facing trial in two courts on charges bordering on the alleged defamation of Babalola.

On December 9, the federal high court in Ekiti granted Farotimi N50 million bail with one surety, following a 12-count charge bordering on cybercrime filed by the inspector-general of police.