The Ekiti Magistrate Court witnessed a heavy security presence this Friday morning as the highly anticipated bail hearing of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi took center stage.
Farotimi arrived at the court under tight security, with police officers and other law enforcement agents stationed strategically around the premises. His arrest followed a petition filed by legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
The case, with suit number MAD/1,476.C/2024, sees the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police as the complainant and Farotimi as the defendant.
Among the charges against Farotimi is the allegation that he authored and circulated a book titled Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, in which he claimed that Chief Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to secure a fraudulent judgment for his clients. The statement, made on page IX of the book, is alleged to have caused public alarm and violated Section 59(1) of the Criminal Code Act.
The court is set to rule on the bail application filed by Farotimi, who was earlier denied bail on December 4, 2024. Security operatives remained on high alert as the proceedings unfolded.
