The Ekiti State High Court has granted bail to human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi in a defamation case initiated by Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Farotimi was granted bail in the sum of ₦50 million, with a surety required to provide the same amount.
The court stipulated that the surety must own landed property. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi’s legal troubles stem from allegations of defamation made by Babalola, 95, in relation to claims in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The lawyer was arrested by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command following the accusations.
The arrest sparked widespread condemnation, with civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) demanding Farotimi’s immediate release, citing concerns about freedom of expression and the misuse of legal processes to intimidate activists.