An Ekiti State Magistrate Court on Friday granted bail to human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, with stringent conditions, including a N30 million bond and two sureties. One of the sureties must be a property owner, and Farotimi was also ordered to surrender his passport and refrain from granting media interviews.
Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, criticized the court proceedings in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He alleged that the magistrate, who had left the ruling documents at home, received a phone call and subsequently retired to his chambers before issuing the bail conditions.
Farotimi’s legal troubles stem from a petition filed by legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) over allegations linked to Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.” Farotimi was reportedly abducted from his law office in Lagos and transported to Ekiti State for the court proceedings.
The bail conditions and media ban have sparked public outrage, with critics describing the court’s actions as an infringement on free speech and judicial fairness. The development has fueled broader conversations on the state’s role in silencing dissenting voices in Nigeria.
