Julius OkorieHuman right activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, who has been a guest of law enforcement agents for a week following his arrest, has been granted bail to the tune of N50 million by a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Aside from the said sum, Primebusiness.africa understands that the surety is also to have a landed property as collateral and same bail sum.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPresidential candidate of African Action Congress, AAC, in the 2023 Presidential election, Omoyele Sowore, announced the development on his his X (Twitter) handle on Monday.
Last Tuesday, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and brought to Ado-Ekiti to face trial for allegedly defaming renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), in his book titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’
Farotimi had alleged in the book that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his clients.
Farotimi outlined 10 claims in the foreword of his book, alleging corruption and malpractice involving Babalola, his law firm, and other legal professionals. Some key excerpts from the book include accusations that:
Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure fraudulent judgments for his clients.
The law firm of S.B. Joseph & Co. doctored the Supreme Court’s original judgment to obtain an execution warrant. Babalola and his associates compromised the judiciary, tarnishing its integrity.
READ ALSO: Afe Babalola Saga: Dele Farotimi’s Book Turns Gold In Bookshops
The Nigerian justice system is fundamentally criminal and complicit, incapable of upholding true justice.
Babalola, has however denied all allegations, claiming they were deliberate falsehoods intended to damage his reputation and the legacy of his law firm, established in 1965.
Afe Babalola whose dancing steps went viral recently in the midst of ongoing legal battle, did not stop at denying the allegation made by Farotimi, who has been consistent in condemning injustice in the country, but also demand immediate recall of Farotimi’s book ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ which has since become Amazon best seller with price sky-rocketing from $4 per copy to $17 per copy. The book has also reportedly gone out of stock in most bookshops across the country.
Meanwhile, the Police, Ekiti State command, has reportedly filed fresh charges against Dele Farotimi.The fresh 12-count charge filed before a federal high court in Ado-Ekiti is said to border on cybercrime allegations.
The charge reads: “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on ‘Mic On’ podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube channel in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”, wherein you stated in the interview that: “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing the breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.”
The Dele Farotimi and Afe Babalola brouhaha has become the most talked about and debated issue in the last few days with many Nigerians seeking to acquire the book and garner other information to properly understand the crux of the matter.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
