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IGP Files 13 New Charges Against Dele Farotimi
The police have filed 13 new counts of criminal defamation against activist Dele Farotimi, accusing him of holding a press conference online where he detailed a plot to arrest him. The charges were filed on Friday, according to documents seen by Peoples Gazette.
The police stated that the December 2, 2024, press briefing on YouTube was an attempt to bully and defame Afe Babalola, a senior lawyer who had Farotimi arrested on Tuesday and remanded in prison following an initial arraignment on Wednesday.
These new charges represent the latest escalation in a case that has caused division within legal circles nationwide. It appears that Babalola is unwilling to back down, despite concerns that his actions could damage his legacy and are seen as an attack on free speech.
During the press conference, Farotimi detailed how Babalola was targeting him over his book, released in July 2024, which alleges that Babalola engaged in judicial corruption over several decades. Babalola has denied all allegations of bribing judges and corruption.
Babalola’s decision to involve the police, who are often seen as being used by the powerful against ordinary citizens, has drawn significant criticism. Many Nigerians view the 95-year-old’s actions as oppressive and have increased pressure both domestically and internationally for him to cease his pursuit of Farotimi.
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday and transported to Ekiti. The police initially charged him with 16 counts of criminal defamation on Wednesday, with a bail hearing scheduled for December 6.
On Friday, Peoples Gazette received court documents indicating 13 new charges against Farotimi, accusing him of disparaging Babalola during a podcast appearance with journalist Seun Okinbaloye and on his own YouTube channel.
The criminal complaint, marked FHC/AD/CR/104/2024, was addressed to Farotimi, but it was unclear whether he had been served as of Friday afternoon.
IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA
IN THE ADO-EKITI JUDICIAL DIVISION
HOLDEN AT ADO-EKITI
Charge No. FFC/AD/OR/104/2024
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE COMPLAINANT
VS DEFENDANT
DELE FAROTIMI “56 YEARS”
CHARGE
That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCOA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that: “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT II: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” with the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT III: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 2nd December, 2024 intentionally sent a message in the course of a press conference held on Online on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k6HzdQXLEk) where you stated that: “It came to my knowledge that there is a charge preferred before a court in Ekiti State against me at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola. This Charge has been fraudulently preferred, hidden from view and the court had purportedly demanded my presence multiple times, and I failed to appear before the court, and this Court had then proceeded to issue a bench warrant for my arrest.
This is classic Afe Babalola. I detailed his corruptive influence in my book titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which you know to contain false information for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT IV: That you, Dele Farotimi ‘m’, on 2nd December 2024, intentionally sent a message in the course of a press conference held online on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6HzdQXLEk) where you stated that:
“It came to my knowledge that there is a charge preferred before a court in Ekiti State against me at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola. This charge has been fraudulently preferred, hidden from view, and the court had purportedly demanded my presence multiple times, and I failed to appear before the court, and this Court had then proceeded to issue a bench warrant for my arrest. This is classic Afe Babalola. I detailed his corruptive influence in my book titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
With the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons, you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT V: That you, Dele Farotimi ‘m’, on 28th August 2024, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, wherein you stated in the interview that:
“If Aare Afe Babalola is the only person licensed to enjoy that level of impunity, that is different.”
With the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons, you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT VI: That you, Dele Farotimi ‘m’, on 28th August 2024, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, wherein you stated that:
“And in corrupting the judiciary…
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Nigerian singer Speed Darlington is calling for a rematch against Portable after losing to him in a celebrity boxing match.
Speed Darlington was knocked out in the second round, and he’s unhappy about the outcome.
In a video, he claimed Portable didn’t deserve the win and the prize money, saying he had plans to use the money to build a swimming pool for his community in Imo State.
Portable, I want a rematch. E dey pain me say you dey carry all that money dey go. E dey break my heart.
” I want a rematch. It’s so unfair. You have up to two experience before me and you fight. I never enter ring before. I did not come from poverty,” he said.
“You don’t deserve that money. E dey pain me. I want to build swimming pool for my villagers. I need a rematch, Portable”, he said.
According to Speed Darlington, Portable had an unfair advantage due to his experience, accusing him of using supernatural means to win the fight.
He also claimed he suffered a shoulder injury during the match despite not feeling tired.
Speed Darlington, who wants a rematch, said he needs 30 days to prepare better
At first glance, there is nothing unusual about the bulky bulldozer turning up soil at a testing site in central Israel, but as it pulled closer it became clear: the driver’s cabin is eerily empty.
This is the Robdozer, a fortified engineering vehicle manned remotely, and in this case operated from a military expo halfway across the globe in Alabama.
Army engineers and military experts say that the Robdozer — the robotic version of Caterpillar’s D9 bulldozer — is the future of automated combat.
The Israeli military has used D9 for years to carry out frontline tasks like trowelling roads for advancing troops, removing rubble and flattening terrain.
But since war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 and later in Lebanon, the Israeli military has increasingly deployed this robotic version in a bid to enhance its field operations and reduce the risks to its troops.
“The idea is to eliminate the person from the cockpit of the dozer,” said Rani, whose team at the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries developed the Robdozer.
An unmanned D9 bulldozer digs up a field during a demonstration to the press at the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) quarters near Tel Aviv on March 26, 2025. Israel’s increasing use of advanced technology on the battlefield, from air defence systems to a broad range of AI-driven intelligence tools, has been well-documented but also criticised for inaccuracies, lack of human oversight and potential violations of international law. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)
During the Gaza war, the military has increasingly opted for the unmanned version, which can carry out a full range of tasks “even better than a human”, said Rani, using his first name only for security reasons.
While such vehicles and other systems are currently operated by humans, future versions could be autonomous, raising ethical and legal concerns over the unchartered future of warfare being shaped by the Israeli military in the Gaza war.
‘Changing the paradigm’
Israel’s increasing use of advanced technology on the battlefield, from air defence systems to a broad range of AI-driven intelligence tools, has been well-documented but also criticised for inaccuracies, lack of human oversight and potential violations of international law.
Analysts say the growing Israeli deployment of the Robdozer reflects broader global trends towards automation in heavy combat vehicles, like remote-controlled personnel carriers that operate much like drones.
An Israeli military official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told AFP that the army has been using “robotic tools for over a decade, but in very small numbers. Now it is being used in large-scale warfare”.
Nigerian chess sensation and founder of Chess in Slums Africa, Tunde Onakoya, has broken the chess marathon record of 61 hours, 3 minutes, and 34 seconds, set by two Norwegian players, Hallvard Haug Flatebø and Sjur Ferkingstad, in June 2024.
Onakoya and his chess partner, Shawn Martinez, are currently aiming to complete a 70-hour chess marathon in Times Square, New York.
The marathon, a four-day non-stop gameplay, started on April 17.
In a post shared on X shortly after surpassing the current record, he expressed fulfillment and called for action to educate and create opportunities for street children in Nigeria.
For all the dreamers! We’ve officially BROKEN THE RECORD with my brother,” he wrote.
Although the official confirmation from Guinness World Records is still being awaited, Nigerians and chess lovers from different parts of the world have congratulated the chess master on his latest achievement.
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