Prominent activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi has been released from custody following the fulfilment of his bail conditions.
The announcement was made by activist and politician Omoyele Sowore, who confirmed that Farotimi is now on his way back to Lagos.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sowore stated, “Dele Farotimi is no longer in custody at the prison yards in Ekiti State and is now heading home to Lagos. The struggle continues!”
Farotimi’s release comes after a Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti granted him bail set at N30 million.
The lawyer had been detained earlier this month after being accused of defaming Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
During his detention, Farotimi was held at a correctional facility in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
He appeared at the Magistrate Court last Friday under heavy security around 9:45 am.
The allegations of defamation against Farotimi stem from claims related to Babalola’s professional reputation.
His arrest and subsequent remand drew significant attention and criticism from activists and supporters who viewed the case as a politically motivated attack on free speech.
Farotimi’s release marks a significant development in the ongoing legal and public debate surrounding his case.
His supporters maintain that the charges are an attempt to silence a vocal critic of societal and institutional ills.
