Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi has been granted bail by the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
This follows his arraignment Monday morning, ahead of his Tuesday return to a Chief Magistrates Court which ordered his remand in prison last Wednesday.
He was facing a 16-count charge bordering on criminal defamation filed by the Police against him.
The charge followed a petition written by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola whom Farotimi claimed had corruptly obtained a judgment against him as detailed in his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”.
Monday’s arraignment before the Federal High Court may have been as a result of planned legal challenge of the powers of a Magistrates Court which many have argued lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a defamation case.
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Farotimi’s arraignment and subsequent bail was done without much notice, different from his well publicised proceedings at the Magistrates Court.
Details as obtained by AIT.live indicates that the bail bond was fixed for N50 million with surety in like sum.
Farotimi’s bail also comes a day before planned protests in Lagos, Abuja and Ekiti states by human rights activists over his arrest and remand, which they have said is a violation of his rights, democratic freedoms and the rule of law.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
