Twenty-one days after his arrest, imprisoned human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has finally got a reprieve as he was released from Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre (prison) on Tuesday.
He was let off the hook after meeting the bail conditions imposed on him by an Ado Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court.
Persecondnews recalls that Farotimi who was arrested by the police 21 days ago in Lagos and transported to Ekiti by road, is facing prosecution over alleged criminal defamation of a legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
His arrest followed a petition written to the police by Babalola who accused him of defaming him in his recently published book “Nigeria And Its Criminal Justice System.”
On December 20, the court granted Farotimi bail in the sum of N30 million with two sureties, one of whom must own a house.
He was also ordered to surrender his Nigerian passport and barred from granting any media interview.
Popular social activist Omoyele Sowore broke the news of Farotimi’s release: He wrote on his X handle: “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held at the prison yards in Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos,” Sowore wrote on his X handle today.
“The struggle continues! Happy holidays to you all!”
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