By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A prominent Nigerian human rights lawyer has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court, in the South West region of the African country, following outcry over his arrest and detention.
Dele Farotimi was granted ₦50 million ($32,000) bail, with a condition that a surety must provide the same amount and own a landed property.
His arrest followed a defamation suit filed by a senior lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Chief Afe Babalola, who accused Farotimi of making defamatory statements against him in his book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Babalola, 95, alleged that Farotimi’s claims tarnished the image he has built over the years, an allegation Farotimi has denied.
Civil society organizations and the umbrella body of lawyers in the country, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), have condemned the arrest.
They argued that it undermines free speech and raises concerns about the state of justice in Nigeria.
Babalola alleged that Farotimi’s accusations were borne out of malice.
He said Farotimi leveled the allegations against him after he failed to get justice for his client at the Supreme Court in a land case involving his chamber.
Babalola said Farotimi will be freed if he can prove his allegations that he corrupted the judiciary.
