The police have filed 13 new counts of criminal defamation against activist Dele Farotimi, accusing him of holding a press conference online where he detailed a plot to arrest him. The charges were filed on Friday, according to documents seen by Peoples Gazette.
The police stated that the December 2, 2024, press briefing on YouTube was an attempt to bully and defame Afe Babalola, a senior lawyer who had Farotimi arrested on Tuesday and remanded in prison following an initial arraignment on Wednesday.
These new charges represent the latest escalation in a case that has caused division within legal circles nationwide. It appears that Babalola is unwilling to back down, despite concerns that his actions could damage his legacy and are seen as an attack on free speech.
During the press conference, Farotimi detailed how Babalola was targeting him over his book, released in July 2024, which alleges that Babalola engaged in judicial corruption over several decades. Babalola has denied all allegations of bribing judges and corruption.
Babalola’s decision to involve the police, who are often seen as being used by the powerful against ordinary citizens, has drawn significant criticism. Many Nigerians view the 95-year-old’s actions as oppressive and have increased pressure both domestically and internationally for him to cease his pursuit of Farotimi.
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday and transported to Ekiti. The police initially charged him with 16 counts of criminal defamation on Wednesday, with a bail hearing scheduled for December 6.
On Friday, Peoples Gazette received court documents indicating 13 new charges against Farotimi, accusing him of disparaging Babalola during a podcast appearance with journalist Seun Okinbaloye and on his own YouTube channel.
The criminal complaint, marked FHC/AD/CR/104/2024, was addressed to Farotimi, but it was unclear whether he had been served as of Friday afternoon.
IN THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT OF NIGERIA
IN THE ADO-EKITI JUDICIAL DIVISION
HOLDEN AT ADO-EKITI
Charge No. FFC/AD/OR/104/2024
INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE COMPLAINANT
VS DEFENDANT
DELE FAROTIMI “56 YEARS”
CHARGE
That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCOA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that: “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT II: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” with the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT III: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 2nd December, 2024 intentionally sent a message in the course of a press conference held on Online on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k6HzdQXLEk) where you stated that: “It came to my knowledge that there is a charge preferred before a court in Ekiti State against me at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola. This Charge has been fraudulently preferred, hidden from view and the court had purportedly demanded my presence multiple times, and I failed to appear before the court, and this Court had then proceeded to issue a bench warrant for my arrest.
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This is classic Afe Babalola. I detailed his corruptive influence in my book titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which you know to contain false information for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1)(b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT IV: That you, Dele Farotimi ‘m’, on 2nd December 2024, intentionally sent a message in the course of a press conference held online on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok6HzdQXLEk) where you stated that:
“It came to my knowledge that there is a charge preferred before a court in Ekiti State against me at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola. This charge has been fraudulently preferred, hidden from view, and the court had purportedly demanded my presence multiple times, and I failed to appear before the court, and this Court had then proceeded to issue a bench warrant for my arrest. This is classic Afe Babalola. I detailed his corruptive influence in my book titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
With the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons, you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT V: That you, Dele Farotimi ‘m’, on 28th August 2024, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, wherein you stated in the interview that:
“If Aare Afe Babalola is the only person licensed to enjoy that level of impunity, that is different.”
With the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons, you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 as amended.
COUNT VI: That you, Dele Farotimi ‘m’, on 28th August 2024, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, wherein you stated that:
“And in corrupting the judiciary…
