Prominent human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has been hit with 12 additional charges under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The new charges have further complicated his legal challenges and are reportedly aimed at delaying his bail application and prolonging his detention.
The charges stem from allegations of defamatory statements made during interviews and press conferences. Prosecutors claim that during an interview on August 28, 2024, Farotimi accused Senior Advocate of Nigeria Aare Afe Babalola of “corrupting the judiciary.”
This, they argue, was an intentional act to incite public unrest and intimidate or harass the senior lawyer.
Farotimi also faces allegations of making defamatory comments during a podcast interview with journalist Seun Okinbaloye, referencing his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. Additionally, he is accused of revealing details of the legal actions against him during a press conference on December 2, 2024.
Earlier in the week, Farotimi was arraigned on 16 cybercrime-related charges. His legal team has argued that the charges infringe on his constitutional rights to free speech and fair hearing. Known for his outspoken advocacy for justice and reform, Farotimi remains in detention pending the court’s decision on his bail application.
The case has sparked widespread attention and raised concerns over its implications for free speech and the independence of Nigeria’s judiciary.
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