Dele Farotimi Meets Bail Conditions, Regains Freedom

Mr Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and human rights activist, on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, was released from a Correctional Centre in Ekiti state after meeting his bail conditions.

A Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital last week Friday, granted Farotimi N30 million bail with two sureties.

The presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, had ruled that the two sureties must be “responsible citizens in the society”, adding that one of them must own a house within the jurisdiction of the court.

The court also directed Farotimi to deposit his international passport with the Registrar of the court and should not grant media interviews during the pendency of the case.

Farotimi was arraigned on a 14-count charge bordering on alleged defamation which he pleaded not guilty.

The police accused Farotimi of criminal defamation of Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in his book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

Farotimi is presently standing trial on a two court charges over alleged defamation of Babalola.

On December 9, a Federal High Court sitting in Ekiti, also granted Farotimi a N50 million bail with one surety, following a 12-count charge over issues relating to cybercrime filed by the Inspector General of Police.

Speaking to his supporters shortly after his release, the activist, said he has never lied against anyone in his work or in the public advocacy space, stressing that the truth is the only weapon that can be used to change the country.

In the words of Farotimi; “In my public advocacy, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know”.