More trouble for Dele Farotimi as another Senior Advocate sues him

Adebayo Adenipekun, a well-known attorney and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has sued embattled lawyer Dele Farotimi, at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

The court asked Dele Farotimi to appear before it within 30 days of service, according to a court document dated December 9, 2024, which SaharaReporters was able to get on Tuesday.

The claimant is identified as Adebayo Adenipekun, SAN, while the first and second defendants are identified as Dele Farotimi and Dele Farotimi Publishers, respectively.

The court document reads: “You are hereby commanded that within 30 (thirty) days of the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of such service you do cause an appearance to be entered for you in an action at the suit of ADEBAYO ADENIPEKUN, SAN, FCIArb, and take notice that in default of your doing so the Claimant may proceed therein, and judgement may be given in your absence.”

The document continued: “This Writ is to be served within 6 (six) calendar months from the date thereof or, if renewed, within 3 (three) calendar months from the date of the last renewal including the day of such date, and not afterwards.

“The Defendant may enter appearance personally or by Legal Practitioner either by handing in the appropriate forms.”

This comes in the midst of the ongoing legal battle between Farotimi and prominent lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola.

The Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State had stayed ruling and adjourned the bail application of Dele Farotimi, to Friday, December 20, 2024. The defendant had on Tuesday pleaded not guilty to 14 charges levelled against him at the Ekiti State Magistrate Court.

Farotimi, through his lead counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), who leads a team of 19 other lawyers, had 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).