An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates\u2019 Court, on Wednesday, remanded a lawyer, Dele Farotimi, over alleged defamation of legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).<\/p>\n
The defendant, who was arraigned on a 16-count charge by the police, pleaded not guilty to all the offences.<\/p>\n
Ruling on the bail application by Mr Dayo Akeredolu, counsel to the defendant, the trial Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, ordered the remand of Farotimi in prison custody.<\/p>\n
He subsequently adjourned the case until December 10 for further hearing.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Police prosecutor, Samson Osun told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in the year.<\/p>\n
According to him, Farotimi published a book titled \u2018Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System\u2019 which allegedly impugned the character of Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti.<\/p>\n
Osun said that Farotimi in the publication alleged \u201cAare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his clients \u201d .<\/p>\n
The prosecutor said that the allegation was false and had injured the reputation of Babalola by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage him in his profession.<\/p>\n
He said that the book was widely read across the world including Ekiti, hence the arraignment of the defendant in the state.<\/p>\n
Osun said that the offence contravened and was punishable under Sections 59(1) and 375 of the Criminal Code Act.<\/p>\n
He urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody, pending further investigation and its outcome for the maintenance of security in the country.<\/p>\n
Akeredolu opposed the prayer of the prosecution for the remand of his client.<\/p>\n
He pleaded with the court to admit the defendant to bail on very liberal terms and on self recognisance, saying the charges were bailable offences<\/p>\n
Akeredolu said the defendant was a first offender and presumed innocent until proven guilty.<\/p>\n
An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates\u2019 Court, on Wednesday, remanded a lawyer, Dele Farotimi, over alleged defamation of legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). The defendant, who was arraigned on a 16-count charge…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-115529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n