Police Arraign Dele Farotimi In Court, File 16 Charges Against Him

Embattled Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has been arraigned by the Nigerian Police before an Ekiti State court over allegations of cybercrime.

It was gathered that Farotimi appeared before the court on Wednesday following charges brought against him by Age Babalola SAN under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

According to SaharaReporters, 16 charges were filed by the police prosecutor on Wednesday against him.

The charges partly read, “COUNT X: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally defamed the person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb in page 70-71, of the said book where you stated: “But the court as though enthralled by whatever Afe the Circus Master had Promised the Justices, acted with utmost carelessness about the integrity of the court, the interest of the citizens and the State that they had been sworn to protect.

“The conspiracy was always a step ahead of us because some of the clients mistook key members of the confederacy of friends and helpers” which statement you knew were false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the said Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb, LL.D by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage him in his profession and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Act.

“COUNT XI: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally defamed the person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb in page 80, of the said book where you stated: “But Afe knew that he could get the Supreme Court to do whatever he wanted and to rule however he asked. Pedro knew this too and he being the original Lagos boy, showed Afe a bit of Lagos magic. Afe Babalola and the Eletus might have killed the buffalo but had no way from feeding from the carcass. We have turned the corrupt triumph at the Supreme Court into a Pyrrhic victory and it was at this point that Pedro craftily inserted himself into the plot” which statement you knew were false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the said Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb, LL.D by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage him in his profession and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Act.”

Osun Defender recalls that operatives of the Nigerian police stormed the Lagos office of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, and seized devices belonging to his staff, whisking him away under questionable circumstances.

The footage showed armed officers storming the premises in what has been described as a “Gestapo-style” raid.

However, they proceeded to confiscate phones and other gadgets from the office staff before taking Farotimi, who was dressed in white, without presenting any formal invitation or warrant.

The Nigeria Bar Association had raised concerns about the legality of the operation, while the association declared that the actions of the police violated due process and constitutional protections.
Farotimi was earlier taken to Ekiti State by the police officers who arrested him, following a raid on his residence in Lagos State.

It was gathered that the arrest, conducted based on a petition by legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), was over the allegations of cybercrime.