A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Thursday struck out defamation charges against human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi was arraigned by the police over allegations of defaming legal luminary Afe Babalola (SAN). He was initially remanded and later granted bail in the sum of N30 million by Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun in December 2024.
A similar case against him had been dismissed by the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on January 29, 2025.
At Thursday’s hearing, the prosecution, led by Martins Akala of the state CID legal department, informed the court of its decision to withdraw from the case.
“The matter is slated for hearing today. However, we want to seek the leave of the court for withdrawal of the pending charges against the defendant on the instruction of the police authority,” Akala said.
Farotimi’s lead counsel, Adejare Kembi, did not object to the withdrawal. With both parties in agreement, Magistrate Adeosun struck out the case.
Speaking to journalists afterward, Kembi said, “The case was struck out based on the prosecution’s application. They brought us here and now they say we should go. They have just removed the chain they put on us. Why should we complain?”
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and some prominent Ekiti traditional rulers had earlier intervened, appealing to Babalola to withdraw the case.
