Dele Farontimi

Following the controversial battle of alleged defamation of character between Afe Babalola and Dele Farotimi, a court has ordered the suspension of the production and selling of the former’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

Recall that Babalola had filed a defamation suit against Farotimi after his book hit the market.

The book has been sold widely across the globe having hit a best seller status on online stores like Amazon.

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, December 11, issued an ex-parte order suspending further production or distribution of the book.

The order by the court was granted pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction filed on Friday, December 6, 2024.

The order was granted after the judge listened to an exparte application filed by the managing partner at Afe Babalola’s law firm.

According to the court, the order temporarily restrains the agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, re-publishers, re-sellers, or any other person howsoever described, including Dele Farotimi Publishers, Amazon Online Bookstore, Rovingheights Bookstore, Booksellers Bookstore, Jazzhole Lagos Bookstore, Glendora Bookshop, Quintessence Lagos Bookstore and Patabah Books Limited from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the physical/hard/digital/soft copies of the book online, electronically, physically or by any other means including social media.

Human right lawyer Dele Farotimi has been remanded by the Chief Magistrates’ Court at the Correctional custody in Ado-Ekiti, till next Friday, December 20, for the ruling on his bail application.

Legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola had accused Farotimi of defaming him in his book titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’

Police prosecuting counsel, Mr. Samson Osobu, substituted amended 14 counts charges against the human rights lawyer at the adjourned hearing on Tuesday.

The defence counsel, Mr. Taiwo Adeniji, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail, saying the alleged offence is bailable.

According to him, the defendant is a lawyer of 25 years standing with verifiable addresses, saying what is important is application for the bail of his client.

The application for bail was premised on Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the FRN 1999, Art 6 African charter and Peoples rights.

The prosecuting counsel objected to the bail application.

Prominent activist and legal practitioner Dele Farotimi has been granted bail by the Ekiti state high court.

The bail conditions include a sum of ₦50 million and a surety of the same amount, with the surety required to possess a landed property. The case has been adjourned to 29 January 2025 for further proceedings.

Faoritmi was dragged to court by Chief Afe Babaloa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria after he was 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.

The arrest had sparked outrage across the country, prompting civil society organisations and the Nigeria Bar Association to call for the release of the activist.

Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi has been remanded in prison for allegedly defaming a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.

LEADING REPORTERS earlier reported that Farotimi was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti on Monday.

The activist was accused of maligning and defaming the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen count charges.

Police prosecutor, Samson Osun called for the remand of the suspect in prison custody pending further investigation and its outcome for the maintenance of security in the country.

Counsel to the defendant, Dayo Akeredolu opposed the call, pleading with the court to admit the defendant to bail on very liberal terms and on self-recognisance.

According to him, the case at hand is bailable and the suspect is a known figure who is not constituting any threat.

He said the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

However, in his ruling, the presiding judge, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned till December 10.