Afe Babalola gives conditions for truce with Farotimi, as Obasanjo, Kukah intervenes

Magistrate remands lawyer in prison till December 20

For truce in the ongoing criminal defamation matter, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) might have given conditions to Dele Farotimi, it was learnt yesterday.

interest already shown by Obasanjo and Kukah in the matter, said he believed it would be resolved.

Ruling in bail

application

reserved till Dec 20

Farotimi will remain in prison custody till December 20 when Magistrate Adeosun will rule on his bail application.

Babalola had petitioned the Police over aspects of the 104-page book he considered as defaming him.

Farotimi, however, pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge preferred against him by the Police.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, Police prosecuting counsel, Samson Osobu, opposed the appearance of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, for the defendant.

Osobu told the court that the SAN, Olumide-Fusika, under the law, cannot appear before a magistrate’s court.

He cited a July 16, 2024 judgment of a Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, to buttress his position.

But in his submission, Olumide-Fusika explained that the Ekiti State magistrate court law allows lawyers, irrespective of status and title, to appear in magistrate’s court, especially in criminal matters.

The senior advocate urged the court to reject the argument by the prosecuting lawyer, noting that the verdict he cited might not have put into considerations all magistrate court laws across the country.

The magistrate said he would step down his ruling in order to read the judgment cited by the prosecutor.

He, however, asked Olumide-Fusika to step down and allow the most senior lawyer in the defendant’s team to continue the case.

A member of the defence team, Taiwo Adedeji, continued the case on behalf of Farotimi.

The court then adjourned the case till December 20.

The court room and the premises were filled to capacity with crowds, many of them taking sides.

There was even a clash outside the court by supporters of the lawyer standing trial and those against him.

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