The Magistrate Court hearing the defamation case against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has granted him bail under stringent conditions. Farotimi was required to meet a ₦30 million bond, provide two sureties (one of whom must own property), surrender his passport, and refrain from granting media interviews.
At the hearing of the bail application on Friday, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled in favour of Farotimi’s bail request.
The proceedings took a surprising twist when the presiding magistrate admitted to leaving the bail ruling document at home. The court was further delayed when the magistrate abruptly adjourned to his chambers to take a phone call, raising eyebrows among those present.
Ekiti Police Command had arraigned Farotimi following a petition from an elder statesman and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, who accused the activist of criminally defaming him in his recently-released book.
