Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail by an Ekiti State magistrates’ court for the sum of N50 million, with a surety in like sum. As part of the bail condition, the court said the surety must own landed property while the matter was adjourned to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Part of the statement as Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, wrote on his X handle on this afternoon reads; “Dele Farotimi was granted bail of N50 million naira with sureties in the like sum someone with landed property.
The case was adjourned to 29 January 2025,” The lawyer, Farotimi was remanded last week Monday by the court in Ado Ekiti after he was whisked away from his Lagos resident for defaming a legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, in his recently published book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
Accordingly, there has been an outrage especially from activist and Obidient alike over the arrest and subsequent prosecution with legal opinions divided over the actions instigated by Babalola.
Activists like Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the Take it Back Movement had declared Tuesday, 10th December as day he will take to the street to protest for the demand for Farotimi freedom.
Also, the elder statesman, Afe Babalola had justified his action against the activist, Farotimi, saying his reputation was at stake in the said published book.