The Nigeria Police Force has officially withdrawn the defamation case filed against Lagos-based lawyer and author, Dele Farotimi. The decision followed the request of the nominal complainant, Are Afe Babalola, to discontinue the case after appeals from well-meaning Nigerians.

A notice of discontinuance, dated January 29, was filed pursuant to Section 108 (1) (2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. The document, signed by police prosecutor Samson Osubu, was submitted at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, where the case was pending.

According to the notice, the police will formally ask the court to strike out the charge, bringing the legal battle to an end. As of the time of this report, both parties had gathered at the court, and the prosecution had served the withdrawal notice to the defense counsel. However, the judge had yet to sit for the official ruling.

The withdrawal marks a resolution to the case, which had drawn public attention due to Farotimi’s outspoken stance on national issues.

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