Police Files Fresh Charges Against Dele Farotimi

The Ekiti State Police Command on Friday filed new charges against Dele Farotimi, a Lagos-based human rights activist.

Farotimi, who was arrested in Lagos, was transferred to Ado-Ekiti to stand trial for allegedly defaming Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, a prominent lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD).

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The charges stem from claims made in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, in which he accused Babalola of corrupting the Supreme Court to secure a fraudulent judgment benefiting his clients.

The revelation of the new charges was made during a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Friday by Babalola’s legal team, comprising Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade, and Lawrence Fasanmi.

The fresh 12-count charge, which relates to cybercrime, was filed before the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti.

The charge reads: “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on ‘Mic On’ podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube channel in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”, wherein you stated in the interview that: “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing the breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.”