An Ekiti State Chief Magistrates Court, Ado Ekiti Division on Wednesday ordered the remand of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi in the state’s correctional centre.
Farotimi was arraigned in court over alleged defamation of character following the publication of his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged, among others, that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, had compromised the Supreme Court.
Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, after listening to the police prosecutor, Samson Osubu, who filed a 16-count allegations to which Farotimi pleaded not guilty, adjourned the matter till December 10, 2024.
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Monday by policemen from Ekiti State and whisked to Ado Ekiti following which he was arraigned on Wednesday.
READ ALSO: Police arrests human right activist, Dele Farotimi over defamation allegation
Adeosun said, “The defendant should file a formal application for bail. The matter is adjourned till Tuesday, December 10, 2024. The defendant is hereby ordered remanded at the Correctional Centre, Ado Ekiti.”
Recall that Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeniran Akinwale on Tuesday defended Farotimi’s arrest for alleged cyberbullying and defamation.
The CP said the offences allegedly committed by Farotimi included “defamation of character, cyberstalking and other things” noting that those two allegations were “fully established.”
He said: “We are investigating him (Farotimi). 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.”
Farotimi’s arrest was disclosed by the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, who called for the lawyer’s immediate release, emphasising that the police should not be used to settle personal disputes.
Sowore wrote: “It is pertinent that the Nigerian police are notified that the institution cannot continue to be used to settle personal scores, and we, the citizens of Nigeria, would no longer tolerate such a situation.
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