By Okeke Eunice
On Wednesday, an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court ordered the remand of Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, in connection with an alleged defamation case involving Aare Afe Babalola SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University.
Farotimi, who was taken into custody at his Lagos office on Tuesday by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command, was brought before the court for allegedly publishing a book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. In the book, he reportedly accused Aare Afe Babalola of corrupting the judiciary and influencing Supreme Court judgments, claims said to have exposed Babalola to hatred, contempt, ridicule, and harm to his esteemed career.
The defendant, Dele Farotimi, pleaded not guilty to all 16 charges against him.
The police prosecutor, Samson Osun, requested that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, citing the need for further investigation and to ensure national security.
However, the defense counsel, Dayo Akeredolu, opposed the request, urging the court to grant bail on lenient terms or allow the defendant to be released on self-recognizance. Akeredolu argued that the charges were bailable, the defendant posed no security threat, and as a public figure, he was unlikely to abscond. He also emphasized the principle of presumption of innocence.
After deliberation, the presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered Farotimi’s remand in prison custody and scheduled the next hearing for December 10.