Report has it that the case which emanated from comments made by Farotimi in an interview about his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, particularly concerning Afe Babalola, was formally withdrawn in court.
At the hearing, counsel for the complainant, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance citing Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as the basis for the withdrawal.
He further explained that the decision to withdraw the case followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, to discontinue the matter.
Counsel for the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, did not oppose the withdrawal.
Consequently, the Presiding Judge, Babs Kuewumi struck out the case.
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While speaking to journalists after the ruling, Olumide-Fusika noted that the case had been concluded in Ado Ekiti but declined to comment on related matters pending in courts across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.
He also stated that he had advised Farotimi against granting press interviews on the matter.
The withdrawal of the suit follows the intervention of prominent traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Afe Babalola had on Monday announced that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the defamation charges against Farotimi.