The Nigerian police have filed cybercrime charges against activist lawyer Dele Farotimi following allegations of criminal defamation by Afe Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
Previously, the police charged Mr. Farotimi with 16 counts of defamation before a chief magistrate’s court in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State. These charges arose from a petition by Mr. Babalola, who accused Mr. Farotimi of defaming him in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
Mr. Babalola cited 31 excerpts from the book, one of which claimed he had corrupted the Nigerian Supreme Court to secure fraudulent judgments in favor of his clients.
On Friday, the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), through S.O. Osobi, filed 12 cybercrime charges against Mr. Farotimi at the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti.
Unlike the earlier charges, which focused on excerpts from the book, these new accusations target statements Mr. Farotimi made during online interviews where he reiterated the allegations in the book.
One count alleges that Mr. Farotimi intentionally transmitted false information in a manner that could cause public disorder, in violation of Section 24(1)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, as amended.
The fresh charges were filed just two days after Mr. Farotimi’s arraignment before a chief magistrate’s court in Ado Ekiti. The arraignment followed Mr. Babalola’s petition to the Ekiti State Police Command accusing Mr. Farotimi of defamation.
At the magistrate’s court, the police had preferred 16 counts of criminal defamation against Mr. Farotimi. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment on Wednesday.
