A magistrate court in Ekiti State has granted bail to human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi in a defamation lawsuit initiated by renowned legal figure Chief Afe Babalola.
The news was shared on Monday by Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, through his X social media account.
According to Sowore, Farotimi was released on a bail sum of N50 million, with a requirement for a guarantor of equal financial standing who must provide landed property as security.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 29, 2025.
Farotimi faced legal action following allegations of defamation made by 95-year-old Chief Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, over statements in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
His arrest by police in Ekiti State triggered widespread criticism, with civil society groups and the Nigerian Bar Association demanding his release.
