Dele Farotimi 


The Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Tuesday denied the application for bail from human rights activist, Dele Farotimi and adjourned hearing to Dec 20, 2024


Farotimi was arraigned for alleged defamation of the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, in his book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System".


In his ruling, at the resumed sitting, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, adjourned the application of bail to December 20 after the counsel to the police, Samson Osobu, proved that the bail application submitted by the defendant was incompetent and irregular.


Babalola had considered aspects of the 104-page book authored by Farotimi as defaming him and filed a legal action against the human rights lawyer.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16 counts charged against him. 


At the resumed hearing, the police prosecuting counsel, Mr. Samson Osobu, opposed the appearance of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fasuka, in defense of Farotimi. The police counsel informed the court that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, under the law, could not take over the suit for the defendant at the Magistrate Court.


He cited the recent judgement of a court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State delivered on July 16 where the court ruled that a SAN could not appear before the magistrate court.


But in his submission, Olumide-Fasuka explained that the Ekiti State Magistrate Court Law enacted by the House of Assembly allowed lawyers irrespective of status and title to appear in court, especially in criminal matters as it relates with the suit against the defendant.


The court, however, adjourned till December 20 to hear the bail application and ordered the remand of Farotimi in prison custody.