Court Grants Dele Farotimi N30m Bail in Criminal Defamation Case

A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has granted bail to activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi in a criminal defamation case involving renowned lawyer Afe Babalola.

Farotimi was detained for 16 days before the court granted him bail in the sum of N30 million. The trial chief magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, also ordered Farotimi to submit his passport to the court registrar and barred him from granting media interviews pending the conclusion of the matter.

The case stems from Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” which accused Babalola of corrupting the Nigerian Supreme Court. Babalola petitioned the police, citing 31 alleged defamatory excerpts from the book.

Farotimi denied all charges during his arraignment. His lawyer, Yinka Olumide-Fusika, was initially disallowed from addressing the court due to his status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The court adjourned further proceedings until February 13, 2025. Farotimi faces additional legal challenges, including cybercrime charges and libel suits filed by Babalola’s law firm.