The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti dismissed on Wednesday the defamation suit filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against activist lawyer Dele Farotimi over alleged cybercrime.
The case, which arose from comments made by Farotimi in an interview regarding his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, specifically about the founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, was formally withdrawn in court.
During the hearing, the lawyer for the complainant, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance.
“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 reason for the withdrawal, saying, “The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and prays that the charge be struck out.”
He went on to say that the decision to withdraw the case was made after well-meaning Nigerians intervened and the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, requested that the matter be closed.
Counsel for the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not object to the withdrawal.
As a result, Justice Babs Kuewumi said, “This case is hereby struck out.”
Speaking to journalists after the verdict, Olumide-Fusika stated that the case had been resolved in Ado Ekiti but declined to comment on other cases pending in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.
He further revealed that he warned Farotimi against giving press interviews about the situation.
The suit was withdrawn following the involvement of significant traditional rulers, including Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife.
On Monday, Afe Babalola said he would ask his lawyers to drop the defamation accusations against Farotimi.
