Breaking: Ekiti Court grants Farotimi ₦50m bail amid legal battle
Prominent human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court, set at ₦50 million. A surety is required to provide the same amount and own a landed property as part of the bail conditions.
The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi’s legal troubles arose from a defamation lawsuit filed by Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who accused him of making defamatory remarks in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The 95-year-old legal icon claimed that Farotimi’s statements damaged his reputation. Following the allegations, the Ekiti State Police Command arrested Farotimi, prompting significant public outcry.
Civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have condemned the arrest, stressing concerns about the implications for free speech and the state of justice in the country.
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