JUST IN: Nigerian Police File Fresh Charges Against Farotimi at Federal High Court to Prevent His Bail

The Nigerian police have filed 12 new charges against human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi.

The fresh charges, filed at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, accuse Farotimi of cybercrimes under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015.

The state police command submitted the new charges on Friday, reportedly in an attempt to hinder Farotimi’s bail application and prolong his detention.

Farotimi, a prominent advocate for justice and good governance, had previously appeared in court on Wednesday over charges filed against him by Afe Babalola SAN.

Some of the counts read, “That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCOA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that: “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” which you know to be false information for the purpose of causing breakdown of law and order thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24(1) (b) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.

“COUNT II: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 28th August 2024 knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication in an online interview on Mic On Podcast by Seun Okinbaloye on your Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4USuxBfZCQA) in respect of a book authored and published by you titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” wherein you stated in the interview that “Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the judiciary” with the intention of bullying and harassing the named persons thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 24 (a) of Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act 2015 as amended.

“COUNT III: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ on 2nd December, 2024 intentionally sent a message in the course of a press conference held on Online on your YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k6HzdQXLEK) where you stated that: “It came to my knowledge that there is a charge preferred before a court in Ekiti State against me at the instance of Chief Afe Babalola.” 

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The Nigerian police had arraigned Farotimi before an Ekiti State court over allegations of cybercrime.

report earlier saw 16 charges filed by the police prosecutor on Wednesday.

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