On Wednesday, December 4, 2024, human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi was sent to prison after being accused of defaming a well-known lawyer, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN. The case took place in a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.
Farotimi was accused of damaging the reputation of Afe Babalola in his book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. The lawyer pleaded not guilty to all sixteen charges against him.
Police prosecutor, Samson Osun, asked the court to keep Farotimi in jail while investigations continue to help keep the country safe.
Farotimi’s lawyer, Dayo Akeredolu, disagreed. He told the court that his client should be allowed to go free on bail because he is not a threat and should be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
However, the judge, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, decided that Farotimi should stay in prison for now. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday, December 10, 2024.
