THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has struck out cybercrime charges against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.
The development follows the withdrawal of the case by the prosecution, acting on the request of the legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afe Babalola. However, The Explainer gathered that Mr Farotimi’s legal battles are far from over, as a separate criminal defamation charge remains pending before a chief magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti.
The cybercrime case, which was discontinued on Wednesday, 29 January 2025, stemmed from a petition filed by Mr Babalola.
The police had charged Mr Farotimi after the senior lawyer accused him of defamation in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he alleged that Mr Babalola had influenced Nigeria’s Supreme Court for the benefit of his clients.
At the resumed hearing of the case at the Federal High Court, police prosecutor Samson Osobu informed the court of the complainant’s desire to withdraw the case.
“The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated 29 January 2025, and filed this morning,” Mr Osobu submitted.
The application was not opposed by Mr Farotimi’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN). Consequently, Justice Babs Kuewumi ruled, “This case is hereby struck out.”
The Explainer reported that Mr Babalola’s decision to drop the charges followed a high-profile intervention by traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Other influential Yoruba monarchs, including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti and the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, also participated in the peace talks, which culminated in Mr Babalola announcing his forgiveness of Mr Farotimi.
Despite this development, The Explainer noted that another criminal charge of defamation remains pending before Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun in Ado-Ekiti. The case is scheduled for hearing on 13 February 2025.
Furthermore, The Explainer learned that two senior lawyers from Mr Babalola’s chambers, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) and Ola Faro, have separately instituted civil defamation suits against Mr Farotimi, demanding N500 million and N600 million, respectively.
Beyond the criminal and civil suits, the FCT High Court has also ordered the seizure of all physical copies of Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. However, it remains unclear whether this order will be reversed following Mr Babalola’s decision to withdraw his complaints.
Interestingly, Mr Farotimi, known for his outspoken stance on legal and political matters, has maintained an unusual silence since the news of his reprieve broke. His only public reaction was a cryptic Facebook post on Tuesday, which read:
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“The good hunting dog is never distracted by the rustling of squirrels in the underbrush. ”
His lawyer, Mr Olumide-Fusika, told journalists after the court session that he had advised his client against granting press interviews on the case. Legal experts speculate that this approach could be strategic, considering the unresolved legal proceedings.
The Explainer reported that Mr Farotimi was initially slammed with 16 counts of criminal defamation and 12 cybercrime charges, making a total of 28 legal counts. Following his arraignment at both the Federal High Court and Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, he was remanded in prison before securing bail. The pending defamation case now represents the final legal hurdle in this high-profile dispute.
