Human rights lawyer and whistleblower Dele Farotimi has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court in the sum of ₦50 million, with a surety of equal value. The court further stipulated that the surety must own landed property within Ekiti State.
Mr. Farotimi is currently standing trial for alleged defamation of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, where he claimed that Babalola influenced the judiciary to secure favorable rulings.
The prosecution, represented by S.O. Osobu Esq., requested that the charges be formally read to the defendant. Mr. Farotimi, represented by Professor Festus Emiri, SAN, alongside Ralph Nwoke Esq. and Ayodele Ademiluyi Esq., pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, the prosecution sought his remand at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre, where he had been held since his arraignment before a Magistrate Court. However, Professor Emiri applied for bail, emphasizing Mr. Farotimi’s status as a legal practitioner.
The court granted bail under stringent conditions, requiring one surety, a ₦50 million bail bond, proof of ownership of a built residence in Ekiti State with title deeds, four passport photographs of both the defendant and the surety, and the submission of Mr. Farotimi’s international passport to the court.
The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Mr. Farotimi’s arrest and prosecution have drawn widespread criticism from civil rights groups and legal professionals, with many calling for his release. Despite his plea of not guilty to all 16 charges, his initial remand in custody and the imposition of strict bail conditions have fueled ongoing debates on the matter.
