By Newsmata
A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday struck out the criminal defamation suit instituted against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The suit followed a petition by legal giant, Aare Afe Babalola, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) complaining of cyber-bullying and criminal defamation contained in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which accused the founder of the prestigious Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) of corruption and shady deals in his legal practice.
Newsmata.com.ng reports that the formal withdrawal of the case was sequel to the intervention by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 and nine other traditional rulers who visited Afe Babalola on Sunday to plead for forgiveness for Farotimi.
During the hearing, Babalola’s counsel, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance. Citing Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, he stated, “The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and pray that the charge be struck out.”
Osobu explained that the decision followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from Aare Babalola himself to discontinue the matter.
Farotimi’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal, leading Justice Babs Kuewumi to strike out the suit.
Speaking after the ruling, Olumide-Fusika confirmed that the case had been concluded in Ado-Ekiti but declined to comment on related matters pending in courts across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti.
He also stated that he had advised Farotimi against granting press interviews on the matter.