EVENTS

BREAKING: Dele Farotimi Arrives Premises Of Chief Magistrate Court In Ado-Ekiti In Trumped-Up Defamation Suit

Published

1 year ago

December 10, 2024

Dele Farotimi Arrives Premises Of Chief Magistrate Court In Ado-Ekiti In Trumped-Up Defamation Suit

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) brought the lawyer on Tuesday morning withour handcuffs, after facing backlashes on Monday at the Federal High Court.

Human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has arrived at the premises of the Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court in Ekiti State in the ongoing trial on the defamation suit filed against him by legal luminary, Afe Babalola (SAN).

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) brought the lawyer on Tuesday morning withour handcuffs, after facing backlashes on Monday at the Federal High Court.

Ekwutosblog reported earlier that Farotimi submitted a preliminary objection, urging the Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court in Ekiti State to dismiss the defamation suit filed against him by Afe Babalola (SAN).

The preliminary objection, filed on Monday dated December 9, 2024, ahead of Tuesday’s hearing of the defamation charge was submitted through his lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), who leads a team of 19 other lawyers.

The objection is based on Section 36(8) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 4(1) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, Sections 77(10)(a), 147, and 370 of the Ekiti State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2014, and Sections 25 and 42 of the Magistrates Courts Law (No. 5, 2014) of Ekiti State.

Farotimi’s objection outlines five key grounds, arguing that the charge against him is legally invalid, non-existent, and that the magistrate acted beyond their jurisdiction by considering an incompetent charge.

The five grounds of the objection are as follows: “The 16-count charge before the magistrate court pertains to alleged offences under the “Criminal Code Act.”

The Criminal Code Act is applicable in Ekiti State through adoption and/or domestication as the Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti, 2012.

The Criminal Code Law, Cap. C16, Laws of Ekiti, 2012 has been expressly repealed and replaced by Section 429(a) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

The alleged defamation of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, and two of his partners, Olu Daramola, SAN, Olu Faro, as well as the law firm Afe Babalola & Co., as detailed in the charges, is not recognised under the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021, and is, therefore, non-existent.

Based on these points, the Honourable Magistrate acted without jurisdiction by allowing the charge to proceed, ordering the arraignment of the defendant, and subsequently ordering his detention in prison.

Farotimi’s defence team includes Yinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) who leads the defence team, three other senior advocates who are Festus Emiri, Bamidele Ibironke, Segun Ololade, along with 16 other legal practitioners.

EVENTS

“Early marriage is better than fornication” – Mixed reactions as young Nigerian couple trends after welcoming a child

Published

3 days ago

March 5, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

A young Nigerian couple are currently trending on Arewa social media circles after they welcomed their first child.

The pictures taken by a Kaduna-based photographer have sparked mixed reactions, with some people saying that the girl is underaged and not old enough to be a wife and mother.

EVENTS

PRESIDENT TINUBU SENDS 5-PERSON DELEGATION TO ATTEND JESSE JACKSON’S BURIAL

Published

3 days ago

March 5, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent a five-person delegation to represent him and the country at the final burial rites of Rev. Jesse Jackson, the American civil rights leader, activist and former presidential candidate.

Jackson passed away at age 84 on February 17, 2026, in Chicago.

Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, is the leader of the delegation.

Other members are the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; the Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; the Special Presidential Envoy for Global and Pan-African Affairs, Brian Browne; and the Senior Special Assistant, Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye.

The delegation will deliver President Tinubu’s message of condolences to the Jackson family.

In an earlier tribute, President Tinubu described Reverend Jackson as a great friend of Nigeria and Africa.

“He was a moral voice and a formidable resistance to apartheid in South Africa. He played a leading role in the campaign for the release from prison of Nelson Mandela and other African National Congress leaders. He won critical support for sanctions against the then apartheid government”, President Tinubu wrote.

The burial programme for the civil rights leader began on February 26, with a lying-in-state at Rainbow PUSH Coalition in Chicago. Services in South Carolina and Washington, D.C., and a lying-in-state at the South Carolina Statehouse were scheduled for March 1-5.

On March 6, a “People’s Celebration” will take place at House of Hope in Chicago, followed by a private homegoing on March 7 at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President,
(Information and Strategy)
March 4, 2026

EVENTS

The Moment Gov. Adeleke Danced And Sang To Celebrate Pastor Adeboye On His 84th Birthday (Video)

Published

4 days ago

March 4, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

On Monday, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke joined in celebrating the 84th birthday of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

In a video shared by the governor’s Special Assistant on Digital Media, Oni Lawrence, Adeleke was seen serenading the cleric during a courtesy visit.

The video was captioned, “Yesterday night, Governor Ademola Adeleke rejoices with Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye on the joyous occasion of his 84th birthday.

“He celebrates a life devoted to faith, humility and service to humanity, a spiritual father whose teachings and prayers have shaped generations across Nigeria and beyond.”