Relief for Dele Farotimi as Obi offers to ensure the rule of law
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) has offered to fulfil the bail conditions of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi who was granted bail on Friday in the sum of N30 million bond by an Ekiti Magistrate’s Court over his alleged defamation of Afe Babalola, SAN.
The bail conditions also include two sureties (one of whom must own a house), surrendering his passport, and refraining from granting media interviews.
Obi’s decision was announced on X (Twitter) by Tanko Yunusa, former spokesperson for the Obi 2023 presidential campaign.
“I consulted His Excellency, Peter Obi, as the leader of the Obidient Movement. As a respecter of rule of law, due process, and order, he offered to take Dele Farotimi on the bail conditions,” Yunusa said.
He explained that Obi, as a proponent of the rule of law, wants the issue resolved in a way that respects legal processes and benefits everyone involved.
Yunusa conveyed Obi’s gratitude to the courts and others involved in the matter.
“His [Obi’s] concern is that the situation be resolved in the best interest of all parties and our legal system. He extended his sincere appreciation to all concerned.”
Backstory
A media gag on Farotimi was part of the N30 million bail conditions ordered on Friday by an Ekiti Magistrate’s Court that has incarcerated hi for 17 days running – and counting, as he is still struggling to cough up the money and other conditions required to perfect the bail and secure his freedom.
He is also barred from travelling outside Nigeria while the case lasts, the court ruled.
A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti had last week granted Farotimi a N50 million bail over the same alleged defamation of Babalola in Nigeria And Its Criminal Justice System, a book the activist recently wrote.
That means he is now scrambling to raise a total N80 million as part of requirements to meet his bail conditions in the two courts. Until then, he remains in custody.
At the hearing of the bail application on Friday, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled in favour of Farotimi’s request but stipulated that “the bail conditions include two responsible sureties and requires Farotimi to surrender his international passport to the court.”
He was instructed not to grant media interviews while the case is ongoing in court.
Court bars appearance of Farotimi’s lead counsel
Before Adeosun granted the bail grant, he had ruled that Farotimi’s lead counsel Olumide Fusika, SAN is prohibited from appearing before the court, citing Section 9 of the Magistrate’s Courts Law 2014 to back his decision.
The activist has pleaded not guilty to the defamation charge on which he was arraigned by the Ekiti Police Command on December 4, based on a petition written by Babalola accusing him of criminally defaming him in the book.
Farotimi is also facing trial in two High Courts – in Ibadan and Abuja – over the same allegation.
The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on December 9 granted him N50 million bail with one surety, following a 12-count charge on cybercrime filed by Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, also based on Babalola’s petition.
Farotimi is yet to meet the previous bail conditions.
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