A pressure group – National Consultative Front(NCFront), has appealed to the revered elder statesman and Leader, Chief Babalola, SAN, as a father to “soft pedal” on the alleged defamation case between him and activist lawyer, Dele Farotimi in view of the huge national controversy and distractions the hullabaloo of it has caused governance issues in the country
NCFront declared that defamation is civil and bailable offence, adding that the Afe Babalola – Dele Farotimi matter is not a criminal offence to warrant the prolong drama surrounding it.
It also urged the police to embrace rule of law to douse the growing tension in the land over the matter, even as it called on Nigerian Government to focus more on tackling the increasing hunger and hardship in the country.
This came just as Farotimi who has been Nigeria Correctional Centre in Ekiti State on Court remand over alleged defamation against Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has been granted N30million Bail bond on Friday by an Ekiti Magistrate Court.
The body which made the appeal in a release made available to The Daily Crucible by Mallam Hamisu Santuraki, its spokesperson, urged the Nigerian Judiciary to respect the rule of law and release Dele Farotimi from detention without further rigmarole, saying the charges preferred against him are not criminal but civil under the law and bailable.
“The NCFront also wishes to appeal to the Plaintiff in the matter, our very revered Elder statesman and Leader, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN to soft pedal as a father on this matter in view of the huge national controversy and distractions the hullabaloo of the case has caused governance issues in the country.
“Finally, Dele Farotimi having been released, we task the Nigerian Security agencies not to be unduly overzealous or interfere in this matter of law to prolong and circumvent the course of justice of the matter as this matter can still be settled amicably by the two parties in due course.
“Nigeria should be saved from undue distraction in finding solutions to the growing hardship in the country as we are all facing a time bomb as a country,” it stated
Meanwhile,The Daily Crucible reports that a Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State had on Friday granted the embattled lawyer, Dele Farotimi, bail in the sum of N30 million after he was slammed with a 14-count bordering on defamation.
Farotimi was admitted to bail by Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun with two sureties who are proven responsible citizens of the country with one of them owning a house in Ado-Ekiti.
The Daily Crucible also reports that the activist lawyer was arrested on December 3 in Lagos by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly defaming Chief Afe Babalola and his Emmanuel Chambers.
The 14 – count – charge bordering on defaming the renowned lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, is contained in Farotimi’s latest book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’
In the said book, Farotimi alleged that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients.
During the last two court sessions on December 4 and 10, the court could not grant Farotimi bail and remanded him in prison after opposition by the prosecuting counsel Samson Osobu’s allusion that Farotimi could jump bail if granted.
However, during the proceedings on Friday, December 20, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, granted the bail application by the defence counsel, asserting that the offence of defamation preferred against Farotimi is bailable despite taking note of the issues raised by the prosecuting counsel.
He ordered that the Farotimi must provide a N30 million bond with two sureties who are responsible citizens of the country with one of them a house owner in Ado-Ekiti.
The court also barred Farotimi from granting media interviews or making comments on the issue pending the determination of the substantive suit in the court, and that he should submit his international passport.
The head of the defence counsel, Barr. Adejare Kembi, informed the court that the defendant’s international passport had been dropped at the Federal High Court earlier as part of his bail conditions on a different suit on alleged cybercrime against him.
The magistrate ruled that the defence team should provide a written document from the Registrar of the Federal High Court confirming the receipt of the passport.
He said: “I have taken note of the fear of the prosecution counsel that he is a flight risk and I have balanced it with the fact that the alleged offence is still a bailable one, and I decided to grant the application on the promise that the defendant will promptly appear for the case.
“Bail is therefore granted to the defendants on the following conditions: N30 million bond, the defendants shall produce two sureties who should be responsible individuals in the Nigerian society, one of which must be a house owner in the metropolis of Ado-Ekiti.
“He shall submit his international passport and refrain in the meantime, media interviews or comments whatsoever whether in the electronic or print media during the course of the case.”
Adeosun, before adjourning the trial of the case till February 13, 2025, ruled on the pending application on the appearance of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, for the defendant in the court.
Citing the principle of judicial precedent relating to the judgment of Ibadan division of Appeal Court on the case between commissioner of police and Bamgboye, the court ruled that senior lawyers (SAN) are not permitted to appear at the Magistrate Court.
