A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, witnessed dramatic proceedings on Friday as activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi was finally granted bail after 16 days in detention on defamation charges against Afe Babalola.
The trial magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, allegedly forgot his ruling at home, causing a brief delay in the court’s decision.
Despite the mix-up, Mr Farotimi was eventually granted bail under stringent conditions, including an N30 million bond, two sureties (one of whom must be a property owner), submission of his international passport, and a prohibition on granting media interviews.
The court also witnessed a high-security presence, with heavily armed Rapid Response Squad (RSS) operatives stationed within and outside the premises.
The court premises also witnessed many human rights activists and advocacy groups, who gathered en masse to demand Mr Farotimi’s unconditional release.
The allegations of defamation stemmed from Mr. Farotimi’s book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
However, Mr. Farotimi has consistently maintained his innocence, insisting that his statements were grounded in the pursuit of justice and accountability.
Recall that the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an ex-parte order stopping the production and distribution of the book.
Farotimi was abducted in Lagos by the police and moved to Ekiti by the Police before he was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti on charges of criminal defamation. But the court adjourned the bail ruling to December 20, leaving the activist lawyer in custody.
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