The Ekiti State High Court has granted human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, bail in the amount of N50 million with a corresponding surety.
The court decided that the surety must have a landed property in Ekiti and delayed the case until January 29, 2025.
Farotimi was hauled to court by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), after being apprehended by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command.
Afe Babalola (SAN) accused Farotimi of defaming him in his book “Nigeria and its criminal justice system.”
The arrest triggered uproar throughout the country, causing civil society organisations and the Nigerian Bar Association to demand the activist’s release.
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Before Farotimi’s court appearance, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Adeniran Akinwale had stated on December 4, 2024, that Farotimi was being detained for a variety of suspected infractions.
The commissioner stated that the violations committed included character defamation, cyberstalking and others.
“That was why we have been looking for him before we were able to arrest him. We are investigating him. If the suspect is arrested, we will bring him for investigation. We will conduct our investigation and will be able to know his level of culpability or otherwise,” he was further quoted to have said.
