Human rights lawyer and author Dele Farotimi has been granted bail for N30 million by a Magistrate Court in Ekiti State after weeks of detention.
Farotimi, a vocal advocate for justice reform, was arrested following a petition filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola, who accused him of defamation over claims made in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The case, with suit number MAD/1,476.C/2024, lists the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police as the complainant and Farotimi as the defendant.
The charges stem from allegations that Farotimi, in his book, accused Babalola of “corrupting the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment.”
According to court documents, the statement was deemed likely to cause public fear or disturb peace, violating Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
Farotimi’s legal team had contested his continued detention as unlawful and politically motivated.
His supporters, including activists and civil society groups, have decried the arrest as an attack on free speech and human rights advocacy.
The court’s bail conditions require Farotimi to provide two sureties with verifiable means of livelihood.
The next hearing in the case is scheduled for early 2025.
