Dele Farotimi, a dedicated human rights attorney and activist, has reaffirmed his dedication to upholding truth and integrity in his advocacy efforts. Reports indicate that he was released from the Ekiti State Correctional Centre on Tuesday morning after fulfilling his bail conditions.
This release came after a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti granted him bail last Friday, which was set at ₦30 million and required two sureties. Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun stipulated that the sureties needed to be reputable citizens, with at least one owning property within the court’s jurisdiction. Furthermore, Farotimi was instructed to surrender his international passport and avoid giving media interviews throughout the trial process.
Upon his release, Farotimi addressed his supporters, asserting, “In my public advocacy and in my fight and wars against the evil empire that we all live in, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know something, I will simply say I don’t know.” He emphasized that truth remains the most powerful tool for driving meaningful change in Nigeria. He underscored that truth is essential for fostering significant change in Nigeria.
In another development, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) dismissed a petition from Emmanuel Chambers, the law firm associated with renowned legal figure Chief Afe Babalola SAN, aimed at revoking Farotimi’s law license. This petition, filed by attorney Mr. Ola Faro from Emmanuel Chambers, alleged that Farotimi engaged in criminal defamation and professional misconduct based on assertions in his book, Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System. The book reportedly addresses issues of corruption, bribery, and unethical behavior within Nigeria’s judiciary and legal sector, citing Supreme Court case SC/146/2006 involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye, among others.
The petition claimed that Farotimi misrepresented case details, disparaged fellow legal practitioners, and compromised justice for personal gain, asserting these actions breached the 2023 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners. The petition sought to have him removed from the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
However, in its ruling (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), the LPDC determined that the accusations were related to Farotimi’s activities as an author, rather than his role as a practicing lawyer.
