A Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti has struck out the criminal defamation case against human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi. Justice Babs Kuewunmi struck out the case on Wednesday after the prosecution applied to withdraw the charges.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had charged Farotimi with defaming legal icon Afe Babalola in his book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
During the hearing, prosecution counsel Samson Osobu informed the court that the complainant had filed a notice of discontinuance. He cited Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 to support the withdrawal.
“The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and prays that the charge be struck out,” Osobu stated. He explained that the decision followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from Babalola himself to discontinue the matter.
Defence counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) did not oppose the application for withdrawal.
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