1 week ago
27
The Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, on Thursday, struck out the defamation suit filed against human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, by the Police.
The court acted upon the application and motion by the prosecutor, Martins Akala, an officer in charge of Legal at the State Police Command’s Criminal Investigation Department, for withdrawal of the suit from court.
The Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, had on January 29, 2025, struck out charges brought by the Police against Farotimi bordering on cyberbullying and defamation following the police application to withdraw the charge.
In the matter at the Magistrate Court, the Police in Ekiti State had charged Farotimi to the court on December 4, 2024, following allegations of defaming Afe Babalola in his book, titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
Farotimi had alleged in the book that Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court justices among others, following which the court granted Farotimi bail on December 20, 2024, and adjourned the matter till February 13 for a hearing.
But Afe Babalola had on January 27, 2025, following the intervention of prominent traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, agreed to withdraw the criminal defamation cases against Farotimi from the court.
At the Magistrate court on Thursday, Akala said, “This matter is slated for hearing today. But I want to seek leave of the court to withdraw the charge against the defendant on the instruction of the police authorities.”
The defendant’s lead counsel, Kembi Adejare, said he had no objection to the application.
In his brief ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, who struck the case out stated that, “Based on the written and oral applications by the prosecution for the withdrawal of the case and the fact that the defendant did not have any objection, the charge is hereby struck out. That is the end of the case.”
Gbenga Sodeinde
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