The Federal High Court has struck out the defamation case filed against Dele Farotimi, following a request from Afe Babalola and intervention from traditional rulers

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has struck out the defamation lawsuit filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, against activist lawyer Dele Farotimi.

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The case, which was based on alleged cybercrime and comments made by Farotimi in an interview regarding his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, was formally withdrawn on January 29, 2025.

During the hearing, the complainant’s counsel, Samson Osobu, informed the court that a notice of discontinuance had been filed.

He explained that the prosecution, under Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, sought the withdrawal of the charges with the court’s approval.

Osobu cited interventions from well-meaning Nigerians and a request from the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, as the primary reasons for the withdrawal.

It was revealed that Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, had asked for the case to be dropped.

Farotimi’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), did not oppose the withdrawal. Following the submission, Justice Babs Kuewumi struck out the case, officially declaring, “This case is hereby struck out.”

Speaking after the ruling, Olumide-Fusika noted that although the Ado Ekiti case had concluded, related matters were still pending in various courts, including in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.

He also advised Farotimi to refrain from making any further public statements on the case.

The defamation suit, which garnered attention due to the involvement of prominent figures, had been strongly influenced by the intervention of traditional rulers, particularly Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife. This intervention played a key role in bringing about the resolution of the case.

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On Monday, Afe Babalola had publicly announced that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the charges, marking the beginning of the legal proceedings’ end.