The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has granted a N50 million bail to prominent lawyer and human rights activist, Dele Farotimi. This decision was announced by Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), via his X handle on Monday.
Sowore confirmed that Farotimi had been granted bail with a surety of the same sum, secured by someone who possesses landed property. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025.
In a follow-up tweet, Sowore described Farotimi’s legal battle as a “farcical trial” and revealed that the case would continue at the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti the following day. He further emphasized that the charges were based on a “non-existent offence” in the Ekiti state law books, and he called on the Attorney-General of Ekiti State to immediately discontinue the trial.
Farotimi’s legal troubles stem from his arrest on December 7, 2024, after he was charged with 16 counts of criminal defamation. These charges followed an allegation of defaming prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola. The accusation arose from Farotimi’s recently published book titled “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.” In the book, Farotimi allegedly accused Babalola of corrupting the Supreme Court in relation to a long-standing land dispute.
The defamation allegations were brought to light in a petition dated November 19, 2024, addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale. Babalola’s legal team claimed that the book accused the senior lawyer of orchestrating a corrupt influence on the Supreme Court, leading it to commit “egregious acts of evil and injustice.”
Farotimi, who had been apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command and transported to Ekiti for arraignment, now faces the legal repercussions of these charges. His trial has sparked considerable public attention, especially given the contentious nature of the accusations against a prominent public figure like Babalola.
The case has also drawn the ire of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement, a political group closely aligned with Sowore. Despite a directive from the Ekiti State Police Command prohibiting unlawful gatherings and protests in the state, citing concerns over public safety, the TIB has vowed to proceed with planned protests. These demonstrations are expected to take place not only in Ekiti but also in Lagos, Abuja, London, and Canada.
Juwon Sanyaolu, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, expressed defiance against the police’s decision, arguing that the police lacked a legal basis to ban peaceful protests. He condemned the actions of the Ekiti police, particularly the alleged abduction of Farotimi in Lagos and the subsequent assault on his staff. Sanyaolu stated that the movement would continue with its protests as planned, describing the actions of the police as an example of lawlessness that needed to be challenged.
Meanwhile, Babalola’s legal team has made it clear that Farotimi’s release will depend on his ability to substantiate the allegations made in his book. They have insisted that Farotimi will only regain his freedom if he can prove the accusations of corruption and judicial misconduct against the respected senior advocate.
The case continues to garner attention, with observers watching closely as it progresses through the courts. Farotimi’s supporters argue that the trial is politically motivated and an attempt to silence his outspoken criticisms of Nigeria’s justice system, while others view it as a necessary legal action to hold him accountable for his public statements. Regardless of the outcome, this case highlights ongoing tensions between activists, the judiciary, and political figures in Nigeria.
