Dele Farotimi, a prominent human rights lawyer, has been granted bail by the Ekiti State High Court.
The bail was set at ₦50 million, with the condition that a surety must provide the same amount and own a landed property.
The court has adjourned the case to January 29, 2025, for further proceedings.
Farotimi’s legal challenges stem from a defamation suit filed by Chief Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who accused him of making defamatory statements in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The 95-year-old legal luminary alleged that Farotimi’s claims tarnished his reputation.
In response to the allegations, the Ekiti State Police Command arrested Dele Farotimi, sparking widespread public backlash.
Civil society organizations and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have condemned the arrest, arguing that it undermines free speech and raises concerns about the state of justice in Nigeria.