By Okeke Eunice
The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has thrown out the criminal case brought by the police against Lagos-based lawyer and author, Dele Farotimi.
Justice Babs Kuewumi dismissed the case following a request from police prosecutor Samson Osobu, who informed the court that the prosecution had submitted a notice to withdraw the charges.
“The case was scheduled for hearing today, but we submitted a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, which was filed this morning,” he stated.
Earlier, Honourable Fm reported that the Nigeria Police had withdrawn the defamation case against Farotimi.
Farotimi’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, did not oppose the withdrawal.
This allowed Justice Kuewumi to formally dismiss the case, stating, “This case is hereby struck out.”
Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Olumide-Fusika confirmed that the case had been resolved in that particular court but declined to discuss related cases still pending elsewhere.
He also mentioned that he had advised Farotimi not to give press interviews on the matter.
Another criminal case filed by the police against Farotimi remains pending at the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti.
The case, presided over by Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, has been adjourned to February 13, 2025, with expectations that the police may also seek to withdraw the charges and discontinue proceedings in that court.
Additionally, civil cases against Farotimi are still ongoing at the FCT High Court in Abuja, as well as the High Courts of Ogun, Oyo, and Rivers States. These lawsuits were filed by lawyers from the Afe Babalola Chambers in the respective states.
Several courts had issued interim orders preventing Farotimi or anyone acting on his behalf from further printing, publishing, or selling his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
It remains uncertain whether these cases will also be withdrawn.