The Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday, struck out cybercrimes charges filed by the police against lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, at the instance of senior lawyer Afe Babalola.
The Nigerian police filed the cybercrime charges after receiving Mr Babalola’s petition accusing Mr Farotimi of defaming him llast year. The police also filed a separate criminal defamation case, similarly prompted by Mr Babalola’s petition, at a chief magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti.
On Sunday, Mr Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), announced his decision to have the cases against Mr Farotimi withdrawn.
The nonagenarian said he succumbed to the pleas to end the cases following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and some other traditional rulers pleading with him to forgive Mr Farotimi.
Mr Farotimi, 57, was not present at the meeting held at ABUAD, on Sunday, where Mr Babalola granted him unconditional forgiveness.
Police prosecutor Samson Osobu applied for the withdrawal of the cybercrime charges at the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday.
Mr Osobu told the court that the prosecution filed a notice of discontinuance following the desire of Mr Babalola, the nominal complainant, to withdraw the case.
“The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated 29 January 2025, and filed this morning,” he said.
Mr Farotimi’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not object to the application.
Based on the application, the judge, Babs Kuewumi, struck out the charges.
“This case is hereby struck out,” Mr Kuewumi ruled.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Mr Olumide-Fusika affirmed that the cybercrime case had ended, but declined to comment on related matters pending in other courts.
He also said that he had advised his client against granting press interviews on the matter.
