A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has adjourned the ruling on lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi’s bail application, prolonging his detention in a criminal defamation case against renowned legal luminary Afe Babalola.
The legal drama unfolded on Tuesday when Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun postponed the ruling until December 20, effectively extending Farotimi’s remand in the correctional facility by at least 10 days.
Farotimi was initially arraigned on December 4, facing 16 counts of criminal defamation against Afe Babalola, a senior Nigerian lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti. During his arraignment, Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecuting lawyer Samson Osobu strongly opposed the bail application, arguing that the submitted document was incomplete and improperly filed. The prosecution also challenged the appearance of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika in the magistrate’s court.
Osobu cited a recent Court of Appeal judgment from Ibadan, which he claimed prevented SAN-ranked lawyers from appearing before magistrate courts. Olumide-Fusika countered this argument, highlighting that Ekiti State’s magistrate court law permits lawyers of all statuses to appear, particularly in criminal matters.
In response to the legal dispute, Magistrate Adeosun ordered Olumide-Fusika to step down, directing that a non-SAN lawyer from his team continue the case. Lawyer Taiwo Adedeji subsequently took over the defense.
The court’s decision comes despite Farotimi being granted bail by a federal court in a related case on Monday. The adjournment means Farotimi will remain in custody until the next hearing on December 20.
