Justice Babs Keuwumi of the Federal High Court in Ekiti, on Wednesday, stuck out the cybercrime charges filed against a Lagos-based lawyer, Dele Farotmi.
The case was instituted by the police following the petition written by Chief Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, where he alleged defamation of character in a book written by the fiery lawyer.
However, Babalola had agreed to forgive Farotimi after a coterie of Yoruba monarchs, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, visited him in Ado Ekiti on Monday to plead on behalf of Farotimi and seek forgiveness.
In his book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”, the Lagos-based lawyer alleged widespread corruption in the nation’s judicial system, accusing the senior lawyer of inducing judges to subvert justice. He also followed up his allegations with media interviews where he said he had evidence to back up his claims.
At a sitting on Wednesday, counsel for the complainant, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance.
“The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning,” he stated.
Osobu cited Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as the basis for the withdrawal, adding, “The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and pray that the charge be struck out.”
He further explained that the decision to withdraw the case followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, to discontinue the matter.
Counsel for the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal.
Consequently, Justice Keuwumi struck out the case, declaring, “This case is hereby struck out.”
Apart from the one struck out on Wednesday, Farotimi still has other cases at different courts across the country where he is being challenged for the various allegations made in his book.
