Police withdraw defamation charge against Farotimi

The Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), has withdrawn the defamation suit filed against Dele Farotimi, a human rights advocate, over alleged cybercrime.

The police had accused Farotimi of “criminally defaming” Afe Babalola  in his book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

During Wednesday’s hearing, police counsel Samson Osobu informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice to drop the charges.

Osobu said the decision followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and Babalola’s appeal to discontinue the matter.

Osobu cited section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as the basis for the withdrawal.

“The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning,” Punch quoted him as saying.

“The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and pray that the charge be struck out.”

Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, the counsel for the defendant, did not oppose the withdrawal.

Subsequently, Babs Kuewumi, the presiding judge, struck out the case.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Olumide-Fusika said matter in Ado-Ekiti had been resolved but declined to comment on related cases pending in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the magistrate court in Ado Ekiti.

In December, a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti granted N30 million bail to Farotimi in the defamation case.