Court dismisses defamation suit against Dele Farotimi

The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against activist lawyer Dele Farotimi. The suit was related to alleged cybercrime and comments Farotimi made in an interview about his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, concerning Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.

The case was withdrawn by the prosecution during the hearing, with counsel for the complainant, Samson Osobu, informing the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed.

“The matter is scheduled for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance, dated January 29, 2025,” Osobu said, referring to Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

He added that the withdrawal followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from Afe Babalola to discontinue the matter.

Farotimi’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not object to the withdrawal, and Justice Babs Kuewumi subsequently struck out the case, stating, “This case is hereby struck out.”

Olumide-Fusika told reporters after the ruling that the case was now concluded in Ado Ekiti but declined to comment on related matters still pending in courts across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court. He also advised Farotimi against granting press interviews on the issue.

The decision to withdraw the suit followed the intervention of prominent traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Afe Babalola had announced on Monday that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the charges against Farotimi.