A prominent human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi has been granted bail in the sum of N50 million by the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti.
Farotimi is facing a 12-count cybercrime charge filed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The charges arose from a petition submitted by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, who alleged defamation in Farotimi’s book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Judicial System.
During the hearing, the presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, dismissed the prosecutor’s argument against bail. Prosecutor Samson Osubu had expressed concerns about potential disruptions to the trial if bail were granted.
Justice Kuewumi, however, imposed stringent bail conditions, requiring Farotimi to provide a surety residing in Ekiti State and to surrender his international passport to the court. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025, for trial proceedings.
Farotimi’s legal team and supporters have welcomed the ruling, describing the charges as an attack on free speech and a ploy to silence his criticism of Nigeria’s judicial system.
This case has drawn widespread public attention, with activists and civil society groups emphasizing its potential impact on freedom of expression and the broader implications for Nigeria’s justice system.