A chief magistrate court in Ado Ekiti has dismissed the defamation charges against the embattled human rights lawyer, Mr Dele Farotimi.
The police in Ekiti state had arraigned Farotimi for allegedly defaming legal icon Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).
The activist was remanded and granted bail of N30 million by the court presided over by Magistrate Abayomi Adesun.
The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti struck out similar charges against the defendant on January 29.
When the matter came up on Thursday, the prosecution, led by Martins Akala, told the court about their decision to withdraw from the case.
Akala, the officer-in-charge of the legal department of the state CID, said, “The matter is slated for hearing today; however, we want to seek the leave of the court for withdrawal of the pending charge against the defendant on the instruction of the police authority.”
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Adejare Kembi, said his team has no objection to the case withdrawal.
Magistrate Adeosun, in his judgment, said, “The charge is hereby struck out”.
Speaking with newsmen about what transpired in the open court, counsel to the defendant, Adejare, said, “The case was struck out based on the application of the prosecution. We welcomed it. They brought us here and asked us to go. They have just removed the chain they brought.
“Why should we complain? We were in the court today to follow up on our case, which is for hearing. The prosecution says we are withdrawing, and we agreed”.
