[UPDATED] Defamation: Court denies human rights activist Dele Farotimi bail

The magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti has denied bail to human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, in the suit filed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, against him over alleged cybercrime.

Farotimi was taken to court for allegedly defaming the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Afe Babalola.

At the court hearing on Tuesday, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, postponed the decision on the bail application to December 20.

This happened after the police counsel, Samson Osobu, argued that the bail application submitted by the defendant was incomplete and not properly filed.

This ruling, however, contradicts the decision of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, which granted Farotimi bail on Monday.

It was reported that Farotimi was arrested in Lagos by the police and transported to Ekiti, where he appeared before the magistrate court on Wednesday.

He was charged with defamation stemming from statements in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged that Babalola had compromised the Supreme Court.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrates Court in the Ado Ekiti Division ordered that Farotimi be remanded at the state’s correctional centre.

Farotimi’s arrest has, however, sparked public outrage.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, called for his immediate release in a post on his X handle.

Sowore stated, “It is pertinent that the Nigerian police are notified that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores, and we, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation.

“Therefore, the police at Zone 2 in Lagos are advised to release Barrister Dele Farotimi immediately.”

Also, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, also condemned the arrest, describing it as illegal.

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Falana demanded Farotimi’s unconditional release, stating, “The arrest is unlawful and we demand his immediate release from police custody.”

In defence of the arrest, the police claimed Farotimi ignored previous invitations to appear before them, citing cyberbullying and defamation as the grounds for his detention.