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 29 January, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi was taken to court by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola, 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.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force had escorted Farotimi to the court on Monday, 9 December, 2024 in handcuffs.
Last week, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos State by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command.
The arrest sparked outrage across the country, prompting civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association to call for the activist’s release.
Some Nigerians have expressed anger after Farotimi, appeared at the Ekiti State High Court in handcuffs.
Reacting to the Farotimi’s court appearance, activist lawyer, Deji Adeyanju posted on X: “Shame on everyone involved in this embarrassment to the legal profession.
“A lawyer in handcuffs over defamation, not armed robbery, kidnapping or any crime.
“No wonder they abducted Dele Farotimi and took him to where Baba Afe Babalola is king, Ekiti.”
Another human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, also a lawyer, said, “Can @CorrectionsNg explain why they had to handcuff @DeleFarotimi while taking him to the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti this morning for arraignment?
“This is preposterous. He did not pose any threat, and did not resist being taken to court.
“Dele Farotimi is a political prisoner and will come out stronger.”
Also commenting on the development, Rinu Oduala wrote: “Dele Farotimi is put in handcuffs for an offence that doesn’t even exist in the laws. Is he a criminal or a political prisoner?
“The Nigeria Government should let us know. #FreeDeleFarotimiNow.”
A Twitter user, Darey, said: “Afe Babalola put Dele Farotimi in handcuffs for Defamation which is a CIVIL MATTER. Nigeria and its CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.”
