Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi has been remanded in prison custody by the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Cyber Reporters reports that the court’s decision was made after Farotimi’s bail application was adjourned to December 20, 2024.
Farotimi’s troubles began when he accused Nigerian Senior Advocate Afe Babalola of corrupting Supreme Court judges in his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”.
The accusation led to a 16-count charge against Farotimi, who pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The lawyer was arrested in Lagos and transferred to Ekiti State, where he faced the charges and despite his plea, the police prosecutor requested that he be remanded in prison custody pending further investigation.
Farotimi’s counsel argued for bail on liberal terms, citing the presumption of innocence.
However, the court’s decision to adjourn the bail application and remand Farotimi in prison custody has raised concerns about the fairness of the trial.
The development has sparked criticism from human rights activists, who view the legal proceedings as a calculated effort to suppress dissent.
Farotimi’s case has highlighted the challenges faced by human rights defenders in Nigeria, who often face harassment and intimidation for their work.
The adjournment of Farotimi’s bail application to December 20, 2024, means that he will remain in prison custody until then.
