The Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti has adjourned the ruling on human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi’s bail application to December 20, 2024, extending his stay at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre for another 10 days.
Farotimi, who arrived at the court on Tuesday morning at approximately 9:55 am, was brought from the correctional center where he had been remanded following his arraignment last week. He was dressed in a black T-shirt and blue jeans.
Farotimi is facing criminal defamation charges brought against him by Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, over allegations made in his book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.” The charges, originally 16 counts, were amended to 14 by the prosecution, all of which Farotimi pleaded not guilty to during the proceedings.
The trial stems from accusations made in Farotimi’s 104-page book, in which he alleged that Babalola had corrupted judges of the Supreme Court. Babalola considered aspects of the book defamatory and instituted legal action against Farotimi.
During the proceedings, the prosecution objected to the appearance of Learned Silk Olumide Fasuka, SAN, in Magistrate Court on behalf of the defendant, arguing that ‘a SAN should not appear in a lower court.’ Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun gave a bench ruling and adjourned the ruling on this objection for a later date. As a result, Olumide Fasuka, SAN, stepped down from the case, and lawyers Mr. Taiwo Adedeji, Ayodele Ademiluyi, and Mayowa Omojola continued representation for the defendant.
In his ruling, at the resumed sitting on Tuesday, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, adjourned the application of bail to December 20 after the counsel to the police, Samson Osobu, proved that the bail application submitted by the defendant was incompetent and irregular.
Following the adjournment of the bail ruling until December 20, Farotimi has been sent back to prison for the next 10 days.
Meanwhile, supporters of the human rights lawyer have taken to social media with the hashtag #FreeDeleFarotimiNow, expressing their dissatisfaction with the court’s decision to adjourn the bail ruling.