Court returns Dele Farotimi to prison, adjourns bail application till December 20

An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate court in Ekiti State has returned Dele Farotimi, a human rights lawyer and activist, to prison custody and adjourned his bail application until December 20.

This development stems from allegations of defamation against Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, in his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” where he accused Babalola of corrupting Supreme Court judges.

Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and transferred to Ekiti State, where he was arraigned on a 16-count charge.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The police prosecutor requested his remand in prison custody pending further investigation, while his counsel argued for bail on liberal terms, citing the presumption of innocence.

After the arguments, Dele Farotimi was granted a bail of N50m and surety in like sum, which must be resident in Ekiti State with a landed property, including the travel passport of the defendant should be submitted at the court

At the resumed sitting on Tuesday, the magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, adjourned the application of bail till the next ten days after the counsel to the police, Samson Osobu, proved that the bail application submitted by the defendant was incompetent and irregular.

The case has sparked intense debate about freedom of speech, judicial integrity, and the role of the legal system in addressing defamation claims.

Critics argue that the prosecution constitutes an abuse of judicial process and an attempt to stifle dissenting voices