Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, appeared at the Ekiti Magistrate Court on Friday morning under heavy police security.
Officers and other law enforcement agents guarded the court premises as the highly awaited hearing took place.
Farotimi’s presence in court follows his arrest, which was linked to a petition by Chief Afe Babalola, a well-known Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The case, numbered MAD/1,476.C/2024, lists the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police as the complainant, while Farotimi is the defendant.
One of the charges states: “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you stated at page IX of the book: ‘That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients’ which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace knowing or having reason to believe that the Statements is false.” The charge references Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
The court is set to decide on Farotimi’s bail application during the hearing.
