by Nurat Uthman
The Nigerian Police have filed fresh cybercrime charges against detained human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
The additional 12 count charge was filed on Friday, December 6, 2024, before a Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti.
The development follows 16 charges earlier filed against the lawyer by the Police on Wednesday.
The human rights lawyer was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command.
He was arraigned in a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti the next day on a 16 count charge of defamation of character against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Afe Babalola, who was named in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
In his ruling, the magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun remanded Farotimi in prison custody till December 10.
However, in the new charges, Farotimi is accused of making defamatory statements on Seun Okinbaloye’s podcast, based on content in his book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’.
He was accused of intimidating and maligning Afe Babalola on the podcast.
The lawyer was also charged for publicizing details of legal actions taken against him during a press conference on December 2, 2024, before his arrest on December 3, 2024.
