Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court. The court’s decision came after Farotimi’s recent arrest on allegations of defamation leveled by renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola.
The court granted bail to Farotimi in the sum of N50 million, with a requirement for a surety of equal amount. According to the ruling, the surety must own landed property. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi’s legal troubles began when Chief Afe Babalola, 95, accused him of defaming his character in the book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. The arrest, carried out by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command, ignited widespread outrage across the country. Civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) swiftly condemned the arrest, calling for Farotimi’s immediate release and decrying what they viewed as a threat to free speech and advocacy.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the stature of both parties involved—Farotimi, known for his outspoken activism, and Babalola, a revered figure in Nigerian legal circles.
