The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday granted human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi bail in the sum of N50 million, following charges filed by the Nigerian police alleging his involvement in cybercrime.
Presiding over the case, Justice Babs O. Kuewumi ruled that Farotimi could be released on bail under conditions requiring a surety who owns a landed property of equivalent value. The court adjourned the case to 29 January 2025 for further proceedings.
The case, numbered FHC/AD/CR/104/2024, was filed by the Inspector-General of Police, accusing Farotimi of violations under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015. This move came after fresh charges were raised by the state police command, allegedly aiming to obstruct Farotimi’s bail application and prolong his detention.
Reacting to the court’s decision, human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener Omoyele Sowore shared on social media: “The first hurdle was crossed. @DeleFarotimi was granted bail of N50 million naira surety in the like sum with someone with landed property. The case was adjourned to 29 January 2025. #FreeDeleFarotimiNow.”
Farotimi, a renowned advocate for justice and good governance, appeared in court on Wednesday to face 12 charges. These included accusations of disseminating false information during an online interview on Mic On Podcast and making defamatory statements about notable legal practitioner Aare Afe Babalola.
The charges alleged that Farotimi intentionally stated during an interview on 28 August 2024 that Aare Afe Babalola “corrupted the judiciary,” a claim the prosecution argued was meant to incite public unrest and harass the named individual. Additional allegations stemmed from remarks made during a press conference on 2 December 2024, where Farotimi reportedly referenced the charges against him.
Court documents obtained by SaharaReporters revealed a total of 16 charges filed against Farotimi by the police. These proceedings have sparked widespread advocacy from supporters and activists calling for his immediate release and a fair trial.
