By Bukola Kayode
The Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday struck out the criminal defamation suit filed against human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, by legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola.
The court’s ruling was subsequent to a notice of discontinuance filed by the police prosecutor, Samson Osobu.
Recall that Babalola agreed to withdraw the defamation cases filed against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi was arrested and prosecuted but later granted bail over allegations of defamation as contained in a petition sent to the police by legal luminary, Afe Babalola (SAN)
Related story: https://frontlinenews.com.ng/defamation-read-full-petition-by-afe-babalola-against-dele-farotimi/
Farotimi whose arrest divided the public was arraigned over alleged defamation of character contained in his new book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged, among others, that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, had compromised the Supreme Court.
Babalola who is the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti announced his decision to withdraw suits filled against Farotimi in the wee hours of Monday after a midnight meeting with Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers.
Speaking with journalists after the decision of the court, the defendant’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) confirmed that Farotimi had agreed to the discontinuance, but noted that other cases were still pending in different courts.
However, he explained that the additional cases related to the matter are ongoing at Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court and others in Oyo, Ogun, Port Harcourt and Abuja.
He said, “In this case, we were served with a notice of discontinuance this morning. We accepted it, and the case at the high court here has been struck out.
“Until those cases are resolved, we cannot make any further comments. The matter is still before various courts, so I have advised my client not to speak with the press on the issue.”
“We will now wait for further action on the other cases. There is another one at the Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court, as well as cases in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, and Abeokuta.
Farotimi, who refused to speak with journalists, was spotted in the courtroom around 9 a.m., dressed in white.
The courtroom was largely empty compared to his last hearing at the Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court in December 2024.
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