Court dismisses defamation charge against Dele Farotimi

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A Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has dismissed the criminal defamation charge brought against Lagos-based lawyer and author, Dele Farotimi, by the police.

Presiding over the case, Justice Babs Kuewumi struck out the charge following a formal request by the police prosecutor, Samson Osobu, who informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance.

“The matter was scheduled for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, which was submitted this morning,” Osobu stated.

With no objection from Farotimi’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, the judge dismissed the case, declaring, “This case is hereby struck out.”

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Olumide-Fusika confirmed that the case had been concluded in this court but refrained from commenting on other related cases still pending.

He also disclosed that he had advised the lawyer against making press statements regarding the matter.

However, another criminal charge against Farotimi remains before the Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun.

The case is scheduled for February 13, 2025, and there are indications that the police may seek to withdraw the charge.

In addition, multiple civil cases against Farotimi, filed by lawyers from Afe Babalola Chambers, are pending before the FCT High Court in Abuja, as well as the High Courts of Ogun, Oyo, and Rivers states.

Some of these courts have issued interim orders restraining Farotimi and his associates from further printing, publishing, or selling his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

It remains unclear whether these civil cases will also be discontinued.