In a significant legal development, the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday struck out the defamation suit filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, against activist lawyer Dele Farotimi. The suit, which had centered on allegations of cybercrime linked to comments made by Farotimi during an interview about his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, was formally withdrawn by the prosecution.
At the court hearing, Samson Osobu, counsel for the complainant, informed the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed earlier that morning. Osobu cited Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as the legal foundation for the withdrawal, stating that the prosecution, with the leave of the court, sought to have the case struck out.
“The decision to withdraw the case came after consultations with well-meaning Nigerians and a request from the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, to discontinue the matter,” Osobu explained.
The defamation suit stemmed from Farotimi’s public comments about Aare Afe Babalola which allegedly harmed the reputation of Babalola, prompting the suit. However, after several interventions from prominent figures, including traditional rulers such as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the case saw a major shift. On Monday, Afe Babalola himself expressed his intention to withdraw the charges, further paving the way for the case to be dismissed.
Farotimi’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal and confirmed the case had been concluded in Ado Ekiti. However, he declined to comment on related ongoing legal matters across various courts, including in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti. Olumide-Fusika also advised Farotimi against granting further interviews on the issue.
Justice Babs Kuewumi, presiding over the case, officially struck out the charges, declaring, “This case is hereby struck out.”
This ruling marks a significant turn in the legal battle, with Farotimi’s legal team confident that the matter is now closed in Ado Ekiti, though other related cases remain active in other jurisdictions.
