The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has struck out the defamation lawsuit filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against activist lawyer Dele Farotimi over alleged cybercrime.
The case, which was linked to remarks made by Farotimi during an interview about his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, particularly concerning Afe Babalola University founder Aare Afe Babalola, was officially withdrawn in court on Wednesday.
During the hearing, prosecution counsel Samson Osobu informed the court that the case would no longer proceed, having filed a notice of discontinuance earlier that morning.
“The matter is slated for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025, and filed this morning,” Osobu stated.
Citing Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, Osobu explained that the withdrawal was prompted by interventions from prominent Nigerians, as well as a request from Afe Babalola himself to discontinue the case.
“The prosecution, with the leave of this honourable court, seeks to withdraw the charge against the defendant and pray that the charge be struck out,” he added.
Defense counsel Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) did not oppose the withdrawal, leading Justice Babs Kuewumi to formally strike out the case.
“This case is hereby struck out,” the judge declared.
Following the ruling, Olumide-Fusika told journalists that the matter had been concluded in Ado Ekiti.
However, he refrained from commenting on related cases still pending in courts across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.
He also revealed that he had advised Farotimi to refrain from making press statements on the matter.
The withdrawal of the case followed the intervention of influential traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Afe Babalola had announced on Monday that he would instruct his lawyers to drop the defamation charges against Farotimi.
