- Court Grants Activist N50m Bail
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi on Monday evening held a meeting with renowned legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola in his office in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
Obi was warmly received by the top aide of Babalola who subsequently ushered him in for a closed-door meeting.
While there is no official communication regarding the purpose of the visit, The Matrix gathers that it might be in connection with the ongoing defamation case against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.
It was also learnt that Obi after visiting Babalola, proceeded to the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre located along Afao Road, Ado-Ekiti, where he had a session with Farotimi.
Details of Obi’s visits to Afe Babalola and Dele Farotimi were shared by a social activist, Moses Paul on his official verified X platform.
READ ALSO: Defamation: Ekiti Magistrate Court Grants Dele Farotimi N50 Million Bail
Paul wrote, “Today, Mr. @PeterObi traveled from Lagos to Ekiti State, dedicating the entire day to meaningful engagements. He visited Aare Afe Babalola at his office within the Afe Babalola University, where they had in-depth discussions on critical issues, including the situation of activists and lawyer @DeleFarotimi.
“Following this, Mr. @PeterObi proceeded to the prison facility where @DeleFarotimi is being held. In a private meeting, he expressed solidarity and engaged in a candid exchange aimed at addressing the prevailing challenges.”
Earlier, the Ekiti State Magistrate Court granted Farotimi bail set at N50 million in the defamation case.
Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) 2023 presidential candidate, disclosed the development via his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday.
“Dele Farotimi was granted bail of N50 million naira, with a surety in like sum who must own landed property. The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2025,” Sowore wrote.
READ ALSO: Defamation: Prove Your Allegations, Babalola Dares Farotimi, Police File Fresh Charges
The defamation suit against Farotimi arises from remarks he allegedly made regarding Babalola. Details of the case remain under judicial review, with the next hearing slated for early next year.
The high-profile nature of the case and the significant bail conditions have sparked discussions about freedom of expression and the balance between legal redress and punitive measures in defamation cases.
