Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been released from the Ado-Ekiti correctional center after meeting his bail conditions.
This came barely five days after being granted bail by the Magistrate Court in relation to an alleged defamation suit filed against him.
He was accused in a 14-count charge of defaming renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, in his book titled Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he alleged that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients.
The police also arraigned him before the Federal High Court on a separate case involving cybercrime charges.
Nigerian NaomisophyBlog gathered that Farotimi left the prison custody on Tuesday morning after meeting the bail conditions set by both the Federal High Court and the Magistrate Court.
A source said, “Yes, the rights activist has just been released this morning (Tuesday) after meeting the bail conditions from the Federal High Court and the Ekiti State Magistrate Court. He is currently on his way to Lagos and will reunite with his family today. As you are aware, the next adjournment is January 29, 2025, at the Federal High Court and February 15, 2025, at the Magistrate Court.”
When asked about the next steps for the Lagos-based rights activist, the source said, “The next steps will be revealed during the next adjournment date, but what I need to tell you now is that the Lagos-based lawyer has been released from prison.”
During the resumption of the case hearing on Friday last week, the presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, granted bail to Farotimi.
Adeosun, in his ruling, stated that the suspect could not remain in prison custody. He therefore granted the defendant bail with a N30 million bond and two sureties. He added that one of the sureties must reside in Ado-Ekiti and must provide a landed property within the jurisdiction of the magisterial district, along with the relevant property documents.
The court also ordered that the defendant submit his international passport and restricted him from granting press interviews through any media platform, whether print or electronic.
