Nigerian Police file fresh cybercrime charges against Dele Farotimi after arrest

The Nigerian Police have filed 12 new cybercrime charges against detained human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, adding to 16 defamation charges filed earlier. The latest charges, submitted to a Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on December 6, 2024, accuse Farotimi of making defamatory remarks about Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola who was named in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.

Farotimi, arrested in Lagos on December 3, 2024, was initially arraigned on charges related to his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, which allegedly defames Babalola. The lawyer was also charged for publicizing details of legal actions taken against him during a press conference on December 2, 2024, before his arrest on December 3, 2024.

A magistrate remanded him in custody until December 10, pending further proceedings.