Activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi was on Friday granted bail of N30 million by a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, following his arraignment for alleged defamation of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola.
In addition to the N30 million bail, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun imposed several conditions, including the provision of three sureties with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction, submission of Farotimi’s international passport, and a restriction from granting media interviews. The case was adjourned to February 13, 2025.
Farotimi had initially pleaded not guilty to a 14-count charge brought against him by the police during his first arraignment. At that time, the court denied his bail application and ordered his remand in the Correctional Centre.
The charges stem from alleged defamatory statements made in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. The court reconvened on December 20 to reconsider his bail application.
During proceedings, police counsel Samson Osobu argued that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria could not represent a defendant in a Magistrate Court, citing a July 16, 2024, Court of Appeal judgment in Ibadan, Oyo State.
However, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika SAN countered, stating that the Ekiti Magistrate Court Law permits lawyers of any rank to appear in court, especially in criminal cases. He urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s argument, noting that the cited judgment may not have considered all magistrate court laws across Nigeria.
In response, Magistrate Adeosun reserved his ruling on the matter to review the judgment cited by the prosecution. He directed the SAN to step down and appointed the most senior lawyer on Farotimi’s legal team to continue the case. Lawyer Taiwo Adedeji subsequently took over the defense.
Farotimi is also facing separate charges of cyberbullying and defamation before a Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti. In that case, he was granted bail of N50 million with a surety in the same amount.
