Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has barred Dele Farotimi, a human rights activist and lawyer, from publishing, selling, or distributing his book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,” in any form.
The judge issued the order following an ex parte application by Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), the managing partner at Afe Babalola’s law firm, who represented the claimant, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
Kekemeke also issued an interim injunction ordering the Nigerian Police Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies to seize all physical copies of the book, wherever found, until the court hears and decides on the motion.
The court also directed the relevant security agencies to submit an affidavit within 72 hours, confirming that they have complied with the orders to seize all physical copies of the book.
The order will remain in effect until the court hears and decides on the motion for an interlocutory injunction, which was filed on December 6, 2024.
In the same vein, Justice Mufutau Adegbola of the Oyo State High Court also issued an interim order prohibiting Dele Farotimi, or anyone acting on his behalf, from printing additional copies of the book.
The judge granted the interim order at the instance of a senior partner in the law firm of Afe Babalola, Mr. Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), who approached the court on Wednesday via an ex parte application dated December 9th, 2024, on behalf of the firm.
After hearing the senior advocate’s arguments, Justice Adegbola granted the interim order and instructed that Dele Farotimi’s lawyers be notified accordingly.
The court subsequently adjourned the hearing of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction until January 7, 2025.
Persecondnews reported that elder statesman and legal icon, nonagenarian Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), had accused Farotimi of defaming him in a book titled, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.”
He was arrested by the police in Lagos on December 3 and subsequently ferried to Ekiti State by road.
The human rights activist was subsequently arraigned on defamation charges before an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court on December 4, with Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordering his remand in the correctional centre until December 10 for the hearing of his bail application.
At the resumed hearing of the case on December 10, Magistrate Adeosun adjourned Farotimi’s bail application until December 20 after the police counsel, Mr. Samson Osobu, successfully argued that the application was incompetent and irregular.
Meanwhile, Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti granted Dele Farotimi N50 million bail with one surety on Monday, December 9, in a suit filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged cybercrime.
The IGP had on Friday, December 6, filed a fresh 12 counts bordering on cybercrime against Farotimi, based on an interview granted over the book.
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