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Human rights attorney Dele Farotimi was granted N50 million bail by the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday. The police had charged him with cybercrime.
On Monday, December 9, 2024, Justice Babs O. Kuewumi, who presided over the court, decided that Farotimi might be released on bail with a N50 million guarantee and a guarantor who owned a piece of landed property worth the same amount.
The Inspector-General of Police filed the lawsuit, which has suit number FHC/AD/CR/104/2024, stating that Farotimi was involved in cybercrime.
But in order to allow for additional processes, Justice Kuewumi postponed the case to January 29, 2025.
Last Friday, GuruTrends revealed that Farotimi was charged with cybercrime and that the Nigerian police had brought new charges against him before the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti.
The filing was part of a scheme by the state police command to deny the human rights attorney bail and put him under detention.
Human rights advocate and #RevolutionNow campaign organizer Omoyele Sowore also spoke on Monday’s court hearing, saying, “The first obstacle was crossed. @DeleFarotimi was given N50 million in bail, with a surety in the same amount who had landed property. The matter was postponed until January 29, 2025. “#FarotimiNowFreeDele”
Farotimi, who is well-known for his support of justice and sound government, appeared in court on Wednesday after Age Babalola SAN filed charges against him under the 2015 Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act.
According to court documents that SaharaReporters was able to view, the police filed 12 new charges against Farotimi.
Among the charges are the following: “That on August 28, 2024, you, Dele Farotimi’m’, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCOA) regarding a book that you wrote and published titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” in which you claimed that “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary,” which you know to be untrue for the purpose
of causing breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.
“COUNT II: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” with the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.
“COUNT III: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 2nd December, 2024 intentionally sent a message in the course of a press conference held on Online on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k6HzdQXLEK) where you stated that: “It came to my knowledge that there is a charge preferred before a court in Ekiti State against me at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola.”
The Nigerian police had arraigned Farotimi, before an Ekiti State court over allegations of cybercrime.
GuruTrends saw 16 charges filed by the police prosecutor on Wednesday.
