The case between Afe Babalola (SAN) and Dele Farotimi, a human rights attorney and activist from Lagos, is being heard by the Chief Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.
As reported by Channels TV, Aare Afe Babalola petitioned the police to take action after claiming that parts of Farotimi’s 104-page book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice,” were defamatory.
In the case brought against him by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun for suspected cybercrime, the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti granted bail to the defendant on Monday.
According to Channels TV, Farotimi was arrested by the police in Lagos on Tuesday after Babalola filed a petition. He was charged with defaming the elder statesman last Wednesday at an Ekiti State Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti.
The magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, postponed hearing Farotimi’s bail application until today, December 10, and ordered that he be placed under detention in the correctional facility.
Barr Farotimi, however, was given N50 million in bail and a surety in the same amount. The surety had to be a resident of Ekiti State and possess a landed property; the defendant’s travel passport had to be presented to the court.