The police on Wednesday arraigned a Nigerian activist on 12 counts of criminal defamation in Ekiti. 

Dele Farotimi, a retired lawyer and rights advocate, was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday morning and transported to Ado Ekiti, about 300 kilometres northeast of the nation’s commercial capital.

In a criminal complaint unveiled during Mr Farotimi’s initial arraignment on Wednesday morning, the police quoted excerpts of the activist’s book that was published earlier this year, saying they portrayed senior lawyer Afe Babalola in an unsavoury light with grave implications for public peace. 

Mr Babalola has long faced public criticism as one of the senior lawyers notorious for their ability to influence court judgements across the country, eroding public trust in the Nigerian judiciary. 

Mr Babalola has often denied the allegations, but some judges have lamented how some lawyers were known for their ability to undermine the judicial system by buying judgements. He was not specifically mentioned in the allegations by retired Justice Dattijo Muhammad.

Mr Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, “was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace,” according to the charge sheet seen by Peoples Gazette. 

Following initial arraignment, a judge remanded Mr Farotimi in custody pending a bail hearing on December 10. 

The detention has sparked public outrage, with Nigerians demanding Mr Farotimi’s release while raining invective against Mr Babalola, who is widely adjudged the most influential private citizen in Ekiti State. 

See the court documents below: