Obi Meets Farotimi After Release from Prison

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, paid a visit to Dele Farotimi at his Lagos home following Farotimi’s recent release from an Ekiti prison.  Obi shared on social media that it was his first time seeing Farotimi since his release after spending 21 days in detention.  READ ALSO: Ghana Opens Border to All African Nationals Farotimi, a former spokesperson for Obi’s campaign, was accused of defaming prominent lawyer Afe Babalola in a book, The Cable reports. He was granted bail on December 24, 2024, after being arrested in early December.  Obi expressed satisfaction over Farotimi’s positive spirits and his continued commitment to advocating for a better Nigeria.

Dele Farotimi Freed on Bail

Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has been freed from custody in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, where he was held for three weeks following his arrest on defamation charges.  Farotimi’s detention stemmed from a petition by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Aare Afe Babalola regarding claims in Farotimi’s book on Nigeria’s criminal justice system.   After a legal battle, the activist met the bail conditions set by the Chief Magistrate’s Court on December 20. These included a N30 million payment, two sureties, and restrictions on public commentary.  His release was announced by Omoyele Sowore, who confirmed Farotimi’s return to Lagos.  ALSO READ: I’ve Never Lied Against Anyone Says Dele Farotimi After Regaining Freedom  Writing under his confirmed X account @YeleSowore stated, “I am pleased to report that @DeleFarotimi Farotimi is no longer being held at the prison yards in Ekiti state and is now returning home to Lagos. The struggle continues! Happy holidays to you all!” Farotimi, a vocal supporter of Labour Party’s Peter Obi and a critic of the current administration, is also facing separate trials in Abuja and Ibadan on similar allegations. An Ekiti Magistrate Court had granted him bail some days back but under certain conditions that delayed his immediate release. Dele Farotimi ran into trouble with a powerful colleague and senior citizen, Afe Babalola after the latter accused Mr. Farotimi of criminal defamation in a book titled, Nigeria and it Criminal Justice System. Subsequently, Mr. Babalola arranged with @NGPolice in Ekiti state to get Farotimi arrested in a Gestapo-like manner at his Lagos office by a group of policemen attached to the Ekiti State Police Command on December 3 and transported to Ado Ekiti. Upon arrival and subsequent detention and arraignment at an Ekiti Magistrate Court, Mr. Farotimi’s ordeal began to unravel very rapidly. Dele Farotimi was released this morning after meeting bail conditions. 

Defamation Saga: Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee asked to Debar Dele Farotimi

In an extreme measure to exterminate the enemy with no trace that it ever existed, Chief Afe Babalola has submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee seeking the removal of Dele Farotimi from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners. This is in addition to the deluge of suits filed against Barr Dele Farotimi by associates of Chief Afe Babalola in support of the substantive case of criminal defamation filed by the senior lawyer and elder stateman. For instance, associates of Chief Babalola already obtained injunctions from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja and Oyo State High Court barring Farotimi from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the hard or soft copies of his book. In the 90-page petition, Chief Babalola alleged that Farotimi violated various provisions of the rules of professional conduct by lawyers. Dated December 6, 2024, the title of the petition is: “Petition against Tomilola Titus Farotimi (also known as Dele Farotimi esq), a Nigerian lawyer called to the Nigerian bar with his name on the roll of legal practitioners kept by the Supreme Court for violation of the extant Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners Rules 1, 15(1), 15(2b), 15(3a), 15(3g), 15(3i), 15(3j), 26(1), 27(1), 30, 31(1), (2) and (4) of the Rules of Professional Conduct 2023 by bringing the entire judiciary in Nigeria into disrepute with his unfounded allegations of corruption against eminent justices of the supreme court of Nigeria, judges of high court of Lagos state, Aare Afe Babalola san, Olu Deramola, SAN, Ola Faro esq, and the entire chambers of Afe Babalola & co in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its criminal justice system.” The petition contains a litany of accusations against Farotimi and was signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm, and who was also referenced in the book titled, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.” Some of the accusations against Mr. Farotimi, as detailed in the petition include the following: “He joined his clients in committing misconduct and breach of law with reference to judicial officers by having unlawful access to a judicial officer. He gave service to his client which he knows is capable of causing a breach of law and disrespect and corrupting a judicial officer. He knowingly made a false statement of law and facts with respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court. “He assisted his clients in a conduct that he knows to be illegal and fraudulent. Knowingly engaged in illegal conduct in the cause of his practice as a legal practitioner. Treated his fellow lawyers without respect, fairness, consideration and dignity, allowing ill feelings between opposing clients to influence his conduct and demeanour by distorting the facts of a case in the cause of his practice as a legal practitioner. “Failed to observe good faith and fairness in dealing with other lawyers in respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court. Conducted himself in a manner that obstructed, delayed and adversely affected the administration of justice by taking steps to frustrate a decision of the Supreme Court for his personal benefit and the benefit of his client who lost at the Supreme Court. “Treated the court, particularly the Supreme Court without respect, dignity and honour by using uncouth, unprofessional, undignified and offensive language against the Supreme Court and the justices of the Supreme Court. Made defamatory statements against judicial officers rather than making a complaint to appropriate authorities. Mr. Faro also alleged in the petition that Mr. Farotimi “Indicated that he discussed a pending case with a judge trying the case in the absence of an opposing lawyer. The contravention of these rules by the Respondent (Farotimi) prompted this petition to protect the dignity of the legal profession, the dignity of the court as the temple of justice and to uphold the standards of the legal profession.” These actions follow the publication of the book titled, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, which Chief Afe Babalola alleged contained sections that defamed him, following which he sued Farotimi. Subsequently, Farotimi was arrested and arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ekiti State as well as an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court, Ado-Ekiti.