Justice Abayomi Adeosun of the Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court has postponed the bail hearing for prominent human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi to December 20, 2024.
Farotimi, who pleaded not guilty during his arraignment last week, faces 16 counts of alleged defamation against renowned legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola.
The case continues to draw significant public interest due to its high-profile nature.
The charges were triggered after claims made in Farotimi’s book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which Babalola alleged defamed his character.
During Tuesday’s hearing, prosecuting counsel Samson Osobu opposed the appearance of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, citing a July 2024 Court of Appeal judgment restricting SANs from representing clients in Magistrate Courts.