December 04, (THEWILL) – A Magistrate court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has remanded a human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, in prison.
Presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, remanded Farotimi after he was arraigned on Wednesday, by the Police for alleged defamation of the character of Chief Afe Babalola SAN, a renowned legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University.
Farotimi was arrested on Tuesday, by officers of the Ekiti Police Command. The activist was accused of maligning and defaming the character of Afe Babalola in his recently published book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, where he alleged that Afe Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the supreme court.
While Farotimi pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge against him when he was arraigned on Wednesday, Police prosecutor, Samson Osun prayed the court to remand him in the correctional centre pending further investigation.
However, counsel to the defendant, Barrister Dayo Akeredolu, opposed the remand call and pleaded with the court to admit the defendant to bail on very liberal terms and self-recognisance.
Contending that the case is bailable and the suspect is a known figure who is not constituting any threat, Akeredolu said Farotimi remained innocent until proven guilty.
However, in his ruling, the presiding judge, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned the hearing until December 10.
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