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Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court.
The court granted Farotimi bail in the sum of N50 million, with a surety of the same amount.
The court ruled that the surety must possess a landed property and adjourned the matter to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
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Farotimi was taken to court by Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, after being arrested by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command.
Babalola, 95, accused Farotimi of defaming him in a book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The arrest sparked outrage across the country, prompting civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association to call for the activist’s release.
The Eastern Updates earlier reported that Farotimi was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
The activist was accused of maligning and defaming the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen count charges.
Police prosecutor, Samson Osun called for the remand of the suspect in prison custody pending further investigation and its outcome for the maintenance of security in the country.
Counsel to the defendant, Dayo Akeredolu opposed the call, pleading with the court to admit the defendant to bail on very liberal terms and on self-recognisance.
According to him, the case at hand is bailable and the suspect is a known figure who is not constituting any threat.
