“I’ve never lied against Afe Babalola” – Dele Farotimi breaks silence
Embattled human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, has reiterated his commitment to truth and integrity in his advocacy work.
According to reports, Farotimi was released from the Ekiti State Correctional Centre on Tuesday morning after meeting his bail conditions.
This follows a ruling by a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti last Friday, which granted him bail set at ₦30 million with two sureties.
Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun required the sureties to be responsible citizens, with one owning property within the court’s jurisdiction.
Additionally, Farotimi was mandated to surrender his international passport and refrain from granting media interviews during the trial.
Speaking to his supporters after his release, Farotimi stated, “In my public advocacy and in my fight and wars against the evil empire that we all live in, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know something, I will simply say I don’t know.”
He emphasized that truth remains the most powerful tool for driving meaningful change in Nigeria.
In a related development, the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) dismissed a petition filed by Emmanuel Chambers, the law firm of legal icon Chief Afe Babalola SAN, seeking to revoke Farotimi’s law practicing license.
The petition, submitted by lawyer Mr. Ola Faro from Emmanuel Chambers, accused Farotimi of criminal defamation and professional misconduct based on claims in his book, Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System. The book reportedly highlighted corruption, bribery, and unethical practices within Nigeria’s judiciary and legal profession, referencing Supreme Court case SC/146/2006 involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye, among others.
The petition alleged that Farotimi distorted case facts, disparaged legal practitioners, and interfered with justice for personal benefit, arguing these actions violated the 2023 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners. It sought to have his name struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
However, in its ruling (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), the LPDC concluded that the allegations were tied to Farotimi’s role as an author rather than his capacity as a legal practitioner.
