In response to the recent coverage of Dele Farotimi’s legal battle on TVC Journalist Hangout, a legal practitioner, Taiwo Adedeji. has called for more accurate reporting, particularly criticizing prominent journalist Babajide Kolade-Otitoju for spreading misinformation regarding the court proceedings.
Taiwo Adedeji clarified key points about the session held on December 10, 2024, at the Magistrate Court, specifically addressing the claim that Farotimi’s lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), was compelled to step down. Adedeji stated emphatically, “Mr. Olumide-Fusika (SAN) voluntarily stepped down when it became apparent that the issue of whether, as a senior advocate, he could appear before a Magistrate Court in a criminal case was rather taking the whole day.”
Refuting Kolade-Otitoju’s assertion that Olumide-Fusika was forced to step down because “as a SAN, he was not supposed to appear before a small court,” Adedeji explained, “Reporting it that he was ‘made to step down’ is, with respect, false. The Magistrate Court was yet to rule on that.”
Adedeji also corrected the show’s claim that procedural faults were raised against the bail application for Dele Farotimi. “It is also very untrue to suggest, as stated by Kolade-Otitoju and the Journalist Hangout crew, that issues of faulty procedures were raised against our bail application. Nothing like that happened,” he asserted.
Further criticizing the comparison made between Dele Farotimi’s case and that of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Adedeji called this analogy “a most unfair reportage.”
Adedeji concluded his statement by urging journalists to ensure accuracy, stressing that he does not litigate “on the pages of newspapers or before television cameras.” He emphasized the importance of factual reporting, especially in matters involving the judiciary and legal processes.
