The Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, has struck out the defamation case filed against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Aare Afe Babalola.
Farotimi was arrested on December 3, 2024, in Lagos by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command following allegations that he defamed Babalola.
The case stemmed from a 14-count charge accusing Farotimi of defaming the renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), in his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
In the book, Farotimi alleged that Babalola influenced the Supreme Court to secure a fraudulent judgment in favor of his clients.
During the hearing, the prosecution, led by Mr. Martins A. Akala, sought the court’s permission to withdraw the charges against Farotimi, stating that the directive to do so came from police authorities.
The defence team, led by Adejare Kembi, did not oppose the prosecution’s request to discontinue the case.
After hearing from both sides, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled in favor of the prosecution’s application and subsequently struck out the case.
