The Ekiti State Chief Magistrates’ Court has struck out the defamation suit against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, marking a major victory for free speech advocates.
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The case, which stemmed from Farotimi’s claims in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, that legal luminary Afe Babalola influenced Supreme Court justices, was formally withdrawn following an application by the police prosecutor, Martins Akala.
Farotimi was originally arraigned on December 4, 2024, facing charges of defamation and cyberbullying. He was granted bail on December 20, 2024, with the case scheduled for hearing on February 13, 2025.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, Afe Babalola, swayed by the intervention of prominent traditional rulers led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, agreed to withdraw the charges on January 27, 2025.
When the matter was called on Thursday, Akala informed the court that the police had been directed to drop the charges against Farotimi.
“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,” Akala stated.
Reacting to the ruling, Farotimi’s counsel, Kembi Adejare, expressed satisfaction with the outcome.
“The case was struck out based on the application of the prosecution. We welcomed it. They brought us here and they asked us to go.
In the open court, I said they had just removed the chains they brought the chains, they removed the chains. Why should we complain?”
The decision has been hailed as a win for freedom of expression in Nigeria, reinforcing the vital role of public discourse in a democratic society.