The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has struck out the defamation suit filed by Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against activist lawyer, Dele Farotimi, over alleged cybercrime.
The defamation case followed the comments he made in an interview about his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” specifically referring to Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
During the hearing, Mr. Samson Osobu, counsel for the complainant, notified the court that the prosecution had formally filed a notice of discontinuance, effectively dropping the case.
He said: “The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning.”
Osobu referenced Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as the legal grounds for discontinuing the case.
He said: “The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and pray that the charge be struck out.”
According to Osobu, the decision to withdraw the case followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from Afe Babalola to drop the case.
Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), counsel for the defendant, however, did not raised any objections to the withdrawal of the case.
As a result, Justice Babs Kuewumi dismissed the case, ruling “This case is hereby struck out.”
Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Olumide-Fusika noted that the case involving Dele Farotimi had reached its conclusion in Ado Ekiti, but he declined to comment on related pending cases in other cities.
He also revealed that he had advised Farotimi to refrain from granting press interviews on the issue.
The defamation and cyberbullying cases against Farotimi were withdrawn after prominent traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, intervened, with Babalola agreeing to drop the cases on January 27.
The monarchs, who had a midnight meeting at ABUAD with the legal icon, urged him to forgive Farotimi and withdraw the cases.
Persecondnews reported that Babalola had initially refused to drop the cases, citing the severity of the accusations made by Farotimi in his book.
However, after the monarchs’ appeal, Babalola agreed to instruct his lawyers to withdraw the cases.
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command and transported to Ado-Ekiti, where he faced a 16-count charge bordering on criminal defamation and cyberbullying.
Following his arraignment in a magistrates’ court, he was remanded in prison in Ado Ekiti and was released after perfecting his bail conditions on the eve of Christmas in December 2024.
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