In what appears to be a turning point in the legal battles surrounding Dele Farotimi, a Lagos-based lawyer and author, the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday dismissed a criminal defamation charge against him following the withdrawal of the case by the Nigeria Police.
The courtroom was tense but quiet as Justice Babs Kuewumi struck out the case after police prosecutor Samson Osobu informed the court of a formal discontinuance.
“The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning,” Osobu stated, signaling the police’s decision to drop the case.
With no objections from Farotimi’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, the judge promptly ruled, “This case is hereby struck out.”
Outside the courtroom, Olumide-Fusika remained measured in his remarks, confirming that while this case had been resolved in the Federal High Court, other legal matters involving his client were still pending. He also noted that he had advised Farotimi against making public statements on the issue.
Despite this legal reprieve, Farotimi’s battles are far from over. Another criminal charge against him, also initiated by the police, is still active before Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun in Ado-Ekiti, with the next hearing scheduled for February 13, 2025. There is growing speculation that the police may also withdraw that case, but no official confirmation has been given.
Beyond the criminal proceedings, civil cases against Farotimi remain open in multiple states, including Abuja, Ogun, Oyo, and Rivers. These lawsuits, filed by lawyers from the Afe Babalola Chambers, have resulted in interim court orders restraining him from further printing, publishing, or selling his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Farotimi, a vocal critic of Nigeria’s judicial and political system, has long been a thorn in the side of the establishment. His book, which critiques the nation’s criminal justice system, has ruffled feathers in powerful circles, leading to these legal challenges.