Police File Fresh Cybercrime Charges Against Dele Farotimi
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and brought to Ado-Ekiti to face trial for allegedly defaming Aare Afe Babalola.
The Ekiti State Police Command has filed an additional 12-count cybercrime charge against Dele Farotimi, a Lagos-based human rights advocate, following allegations of judicial corruption in his book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and brought to Ado-Ekiti to face trial for allegedly defaming Aare Afe Babalola, a senior advocate and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). The legal action stems from claims in Farotimi’s book that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to obtain fraudulent judgments.
The specific charge alleges that Farotimi knowingly transmitted false information during an online interview on the ‘Mic On’ podcast, potentially violating Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015.
In the book, Farotimi outlined multiple serious accusations, including claims that the law firm of S.B. Joseph & Co. doctored a Supreme Court judgment, and that Babalola and his associates compromised the judiciary’s integrity. He also argued that the Nigerian justice system is fundamentally criminal and incapable of upholding true justice.
Afe Babalola has denied these allegations, describing them as deliberate falsehoods meant to damage his reputation and the legacy of his law firm, which has been in operation since 1965. He has demanded the recovery of all copies of the book from circulation.
The court has remanded Farotimi in prison custody, with a bail hearing scheduled for December 10th. Babalola’s lawyers – Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade, and Lawrence Fasanmi – revealed the details of the charges at a press conference in Ado-Ekiti on Friday.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between legal critics and established legal professionals in Nigeria, raising questions about the limits of free expression and judicial criticism.
