In a dramatic turn of events, the Magistrate Court hearing the defamation case against human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi has granted him bail under stringent conditions. Farotimi was required to meet a ₦30 million bond, provide two sureties (one of whom must own property), surrender his passport, and refrain from granting media interviews.
The proceedings took a surprising twist when the presiding magistrate, in what many have described as an unprecedented display of unpreparedness, admitted to leaving the bail ruling document at home. The court was further delayed when the magistrate abruptly adjourned to his chambers to take a phone call, raising eyebrows among those present.
Adding to the controversy, the magistrate cited unclear prints as the reason for needing additional time to finalize the ruling. Critics have described these actions as unbecoming of judicial decorum.
The magistrate also ruled that Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olumide Fusika, who was representing Dele Farotimi, could not appear before the court. This decision was based on Section 9 of the Magistrates’ Courts Law, 2014, sparking outrage among legal professionals and observers who viewed it as an affront to the legal process.
Farotimi’s legal team expressed concerns over the handling of the case, but supporters remain steadfast, describing the activist as a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity.
