Defamation: Court Strikes Out Charge Against Dele Farotimi

The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti dismissed the police’s criminal allegation against Dele Farotimi, a Lagos-based legal practitioner and author.

Justice Babs Kuewumi dismissed the charge when the police prosecutor, Samson Osobu, filed an application.

Osobu informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuation.

He informed us that “the matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning.”.

Lawyers had no objections to Farotimi, who was led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika.

This paved the way for Justice Kuewumi to strike out the case, with the judge declaring, “this case is hereby struck out.”

Outside the courtroom, Olumide-Fusika informed journalists that the issue had been resolved in this court but declined to comment on related matters ongoing in other courts.

He further stated that he had cautioned Farotimi against giving press interviews about the matter.

Recall that another criminal charge filed by the police against Farotimi is still pending before the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti.

The case before Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun was adjourned to February 13, 2025, and it is expected that the police will also move to discontinue proceedings in that court and withdraw the charge.

There are also civil cases against Farotimi pending before the FCT High Court, Abuja; the Ogun State High Court; the Oyo State High Court; and the Rivers State High Court, which were filed by lawyers in the Afe Babalola Chambers in those states.

Some of the courts had granted interim orders restraining Farotimi or any person acting through him from further printing, publication, and sale of his book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”.

It is not yet clear whether those cases will also be discontinued.