Defamation: Court strikes out suit against Farotimi

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti dismissed the defamation lawsuit filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against activist lawyer Dele Farotimi, concerning alleged cybercrime.
The case arose from comments Farotimi made in an interview about his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which included remarks about Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.
At the hearing, the complainant’s counsel, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance, leading to the formal withdrawal of the case.
“The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning,” he stated.
Osobu cited Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as the basis for the withdrawal, adding, “The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and pray that the charge be struck out.”
He further explained that the decision to withdraw the case followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, to discontinue the matter.
Counsel for the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal.
Consequently, Justice Babs Kuewumi struck out the case, declaring, “This case is hereby struck out.”
After the ruling, Olumide-Fusika told journalists that the case had been concluded in Ado Ekiti but chose not to comment on other related cases still pending in courts across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti. He also mentioned that he had advised Farotimi against giving press interviews on the matter.
The withdrawal of the suit came after the intervention of prominent traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. On Monday, Afe Babalola announced he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the defamation charges against Farotimi.