A Federal High Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, has granted bail to Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi in the sum of N50 million, with a surety in the same amount.
According to the court, which adjourned the cybercrime suit instituted against Farotimi by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to 29th January 2025, for further proceedings, the surety must also possess a landed property in Ekiti State
Last week, Farotimi was arrested by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command and arraigned before a Magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti, over the petition written against him by 95-year-old legal icon and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aare Afe Babalola over alleged defamation in a book titled; “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.”
However, the IGP surprisingly filed a fresh suit marked FHC/AD/CR/104/2024 against Farotimi before the Federal High Court over a 12-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
During Monday’s hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi disagreed with the prosecutor, Samson Osubu who argued for the court not to grant bail to the defendant as moved by his counsel.
In his ruling, Justice Kuewumi granted the defendant a N50 million bail in like sum with a surety resident in Ekiti.
While adjourning the case till January 29, 2025, for commencement of hearing, the Judge also ordered that the defendant must submit his international passport to the court
Addressing journalists on the matter, Ralph Nwoke, one of the counsels to Farotimi, applauded the court for granting their client bail, adding that the team would do everything possible to perfect the bail conditions towards ensuring his release.
Nwoke, who is the managing partner DL Legal, revealed that the prosecuting team served the defence counsel with a fresh suit different from the one earlier filed on Friday against Farotimi.
He said; ”We got the hint this morning (Monday) that they were bringing Dele Farotimi to the Court this morning and we are already in the Ado-Ekiti, we immediately rushed down to the court.
“They served us a new charge in court that was filed this morning, substituting the one that was filed on Friday last week.
“Our team moved an oral bail application and he was granted bail.
“He was granted a bail of N50 million 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.
”Our client has been taken to the custodian center , while we are working on perfecting these conditions to get him out hopefully any moment from now.”
On the likely impact of the suit in relations to the one at the Magistrate Court, Nwoke said; “I don’t expect the Magistrate court matter to go on, this should override it, because this is a higher court. Let’s see what the prosecution team will do but we will be here to do our job.”
Recalled that Farotimi’s arrest had sparked outrage across the country, with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) demanding the activist’s immediate release.
But in defending the Police’s interest in the case, Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Adeniran Akinwale, on December 4, 2024 claimed that Farotimi was arrested for various alleged offences.
CP Akinwale alleged that the offences committed included defamation of character, cyber stalking, and others, adding; “That was why we have been looking for him before we were able to arrest him.”
The Police boss was further quoted as saying; “We are investigating him. If the suspect is arrested, we will bring him for investigation. We will conduct our investigation and will be able to know his level of culpability or otherwise.”
