Dele Farotimi appears in court in handcuffs, granted ₦50m bail in defamation trial
A federal high court in Ekiti has granted human rights activist Dele Farotimi bail in the sum of ₦50 million with one surety.
On Monday, Babs Olaniyi Kuewumi, the presiding judge, ruled that the surety must provide evidence of two years’ tax clearance and a letter of consent from their bank.
Farotimi, dressed in a pink shirt, was brought to the courtroom in handcuffs, escorted by police officers.
The judge subsequently adjourned the trial to January 29, 2025.
On Friday, the inspector-general of police had filed a 12-count charge against Farotimi, accusing him of cybercrime. The charges stem from allegations that the activist spread false information about Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), during an online interview.
One of the charges 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 (http://youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxB…) 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.”
Farotimi was arrested last Tuesday in Lagos by officers attached to the Ekiti state police command in connection with allegations of defamation and cyberbullying. The arrest followed a petition written by Babalola.
After his arrest, Farotimi was arraigned at an Ekiti magistrate court on a 16-count charge relating to defamation. The magistrate court ordered his remand in prison custody pending the hearing of his bail application on December 10.
Farotimi’s legal battles have become a significant talking point, as the case brings attention to issues surrounding freedom of expression, defamation laws, and the application of the Cybercrimes Act in Nigeria.
