Lawyer Dele Farotimi has been released from the correctional centre in Ekiti after meeting his bail conditions.
Former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore said in a post on social media on Tuesday that Mr Farotimi was on his way to Lagos.
The lawyer was arrested in his Lagos office on December 3 by policemen from Ekiti Command and driven to Ekiti to face defamation charges. Farotimi is accused of defaming senior lawyer Afe Babalola in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Announcing Farotimi’s freedom, Mr Sowore wrote, “I am pleased to report that Dele Farotimi is no longer being held at the prison yards in Ekiti State and is now returning home to Lagos.”
Last Friday, a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti granted N30 million bail to Farotimi.
The bail conditions included a N30 million bond, two sureties, one of whom must be a property owner, a submission of Farotimi’s passport and a prohibition of Farotimi granting media interviews once released.
Meanwhile, Dele Farotimi said on Tuesday he has never lied on anyone.
Mr Farotimi stated this after his release from a correctional facility in Ekiti State after meeting stringent bail conditions.
Upon his release, Farotimi addressed journalists, maintaining his innocence and reiterating his commitment to truth.
“It is not ever an easy journey when you are fighting evil, but some years back, before I started this work, God told me that the truth is enough. It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria, which is the truth. In my war against the evil empire that we all lived in, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know,” he stated.
Farotimi’s legal troubles began following the July release of his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, in which he alleged corruption within the judiciary, including accusations against Babalola and other senior advocates of Nigeria. Babalola filed a defamation petition against him, leading to his arrest in Lagos by policemen attached to the Ekiti State Police Command on December 3.
In addition to the defamation charges initially filed by Babalola’s team, the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun brought 12 additional charges against Farotimi at a Federal High Court in Ekiti.
These charges also centre on allegations of defamation and cyberbullying.