By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, has dismissed the defamation case against lawyer Dele Farotimi, instituted against him by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola.
Farotimi was arrested on December 3, 2024, in Lagos by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command over allegations of defamation against Babalola.
He was accused in a 14-count charge of defaming a renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his clients.
At the hearing, the legal team of the prosecution, led by Mr. Martins A. Akala, sought the leave of the court to withdraw the charges against Farotimi, adding that the withdrawal was instructed by the police authority.
The defence team, led by Adejare Kembi and others, did not object to the prosecution request that the case be withdrawn.
In his ruling, the Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, having listened to both parties in the case, struck out the case as requested by the prosecution.