Magistrate Court In Ado-Ekiti Denies Bail To Dele Farotimi Over Cybercrime Allegations

The Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti has denied bail to human rights activist Dele Farotimi in a case filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged cybercrime.

Farotimi was arraigned for allegedly defaming Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, through claims made in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, where he accused Babalola of compromising the Supreme Court.

At the hearing on Tuesday, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun postponed the bail decision to December 20. This followed an argument by the police counsel, Samson Osobu, that the defendant’s bail application was incomplete and improperly filed.

However, the ruling contradicts a Federal High Court decision on Monday, which granted Farotimi bail.

The activist was arrested in Lagos and transported to Ekiti, where he appeared in court on Wednesday. The Chief Magistrate’s Court ordered his remand at the state correctional center.

Farotimi’s arrest has triggered widespread public outrage. Omoyele Sowore, 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, called for his immediate release, criticizing the police for being used to settle personal scores.

In a similar reaction, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana condemned the arrest, describing it as illegal and demanding Farotimi’s unconditional release.

The police, however, defended their actions, claiming Farotimi ignored previous invitations and citing cyberbullying and defamation as grounds for his arrest.