A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti Division, yesterday, granted a N50 million bail to human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, over alleged 12-count cybercrime charge against him by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun.

Farotimi was last week arraigned before a magistrate’s court in Ado-Ekiti over the petition written against him by a legal icon, Afe Babalola (SAN) on alleged defamation in his book titled, “Nigeria and its Criminal Judicial System.”

The presiding judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, during the hearing, yesterday, disagreed with the prosecutor, Samson Osubu, who urged the court not to grant bail to the defendant as moved by his counsel.

Justice Kuewumi, in his ruling, granted the defendant a N50 million bail in like sum with a surety resident in the state. The court also ordered that the defendant must submit his international passport to the court and adjourned the case till January 29, 2025, for commencement of hearing.

One of the counsels to Farotimi, Ralph Nwoke, commended the court for granting the defendant bail, adding that the team would do everything possible to perfect the bail conditions towards ensuring his release.

Nwoke said that the prosecuting team served the defence counsel with a fresh suit different from the one earlier filed last Friday against Farotimi.