Human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has been granted N30 million bail by the Ekiti State Magistrate Court.

He was granted bail on Friday, December 20 2024, over the alleged defamation suit filed against him by Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun while granting the bail application from the defence counsel on Friday said the defendants must provide two sureties with one of them a house owner in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

The court also held that the defendant should submit his international passport and refrain from granting media interviews both electronic or print pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Recall that Farotimi arrived at Ekiti Magistrate Court on Friday for a hearing of alleged defamation charges against him.

Security was heightened at the venue of the court, with operatives of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies present.

The human rights lawyer was arrested following a petition by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). Farotimi is accused of publishing defamatory statements in his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.” The court is set to rule on his bail application.

The charge suit, number MAD/1,476.C/2024, pits the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police as the complainant against Farotimi as the defendant.