Former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has met with Nigerian legal luminary, Afe Babalola, SAN, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, who is locked in a defamation battle with Activist Dele Farotimi.
The same day, Monday, the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, granted a N50 million bail to Farotimi, after the police filed charges against him over allegations of cybercrime.
The bail conditions include a sum of ₦50 million and a surety of the same amount, with the surety required to possess a landed property.
The case has been adjourned to 29th January 2025 for further proceedings.
The former Governor of Anambra State pleaded with Babalola to consider the “situation” of Human Rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, who is at the Ekiti Prisons.
The legal luminary has come under intense criticisms since he petitioned the Nigerian police to arrest Farotimi, with Nigerians locally and in the diaspora already set for a mega protest to force the nonagenarian to stop his alleged abuse of power.
Obi, who travelled from Lagos to Ekiti State on Monday, reportedly had “indepth discussions” with Babalola on Farotimi’s matter.
Eyewitnesses at the meeting said the LP rather begged the legal luminary to let the matter slide and grant the younger man a soft landing.
Farotimi had appeared before the court on Monday following charges brought against him by Afe Babalola SAN under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.
“Today, Mr. aPeterObi travelled from Lagos to Ekiti State, dedicating the entire day to meaningful engagements. He visited Aare Afe Babalola at his office within the Afe Babalola University, where they had in-depth discussions on critical issues, including the situation of activists and lawyer aDeleFarotimi,” a social media user posted.
“Following this, Mr. aPeterObi proceeded to the prison facility where aDeleFarotimi is being held. In a private meeting, he expressed solidarity and engaged in a candid exchange aimed at addressing the prevailing challenges. – DrMo”
Justice Babs O. Kuewumi, presiding over the court on Monday, December 9, 2024, had ruled that Farotimi be released on bail with conditions that included a N50 million surety and a guarantor possessing a landed property of equivalent value.
The case, with suit number FHC/AD/CR/104/2024, was filed by the Inspector-General of Police, alleging cybercrime activities linked to Farotimi.
Farotimi was dragged to court over a petition by Chief Afe Babaloa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
He was arrested in Lagos and ferreted to Ekiti by operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command.
Babalola, 95, accused Farotimi of defaming him in a book, titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
The arrest had sparked outrage across the country, prompting civil society organisations and the Nigeria Bar Association to call for the release of the activist and threatening a public protest.
