The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has struck out the defamation charge filed by the police against Lagos-based lawyer and author, Dele Farotimi.

Presiding over the case, Justice Babs Kuewumi dismissed the charge after the police prosecutor, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had decided to discontinue the case.

“The matter was scheduled for hearing today, but we have filed a notice of discontinuance dated January 29, 2025,” Osobu told the court.

With no objections from Farotimi’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, the judge ruled, “This case is hereby struck out.”

Outside the courtroom, Olumide-Fusika confirmed to journalists that the case had been concluded in this court but declined to comment on other related legal matters pending in different courts.

He also stated that he had advised Farotimi not to speak to the press about the case.

Meanwhile, another defamation charge against Farotimi remains pending before the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti, presided over by Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun.

That case has been adjourned to February 13, 2025, with expectations that the police may also withdraw the charge.

Additionally, multiple civil cases against Farotimi are ongoing at various courts, including the FCT High Court in Abuja and state high courts in Ogun, Oyo, and Rivers.

These suits, filed by lawyers from Afe Babalola Chambers, have led to interim court orders restricting the further printing, publication, or sale of his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.

It remains uncertain whether these civil cases will also be discontinued.

A Max Air Boeing 737-4D7 aircraft carrying 53 passengers and crew narrowly avoided disaster on Tuesday night when it crash-landed at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

The aircraft, with registration number 5N-MBD, overshot the runway at around 9:15 p.m. before losing its front tire, triggering panic among those on board.

The flight, which had taken off from Lagos with a stop in Abuja, ended in a terrifying emergency landing, prompting an urgent evacuation of passengers.

A senior Max Air official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated.

He attributed the incident to a tire burst, citing preliminary findings, but emphasized that regulatory agencies, including the Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) and the Aircraft and Equipment Department (AED), had been notified for a full investigation.

The official acknowledged the distress passengers experienced and reassured the public that Max Air remains committed to maintaining high safety standards.

This is not the first safety scare involving the airline.

In December 2024, another Max Air flight (VM1623) made an emergency landing at Muhammadu Buhari International Airport in Maiduguri following an engine fire.

That incident involved 80 passengers, including Borno State’s Deputy Governor, Usman Kadafur.

The Nigeria Police Force has officially withdrawn its defamation case against Lagos-based lawyer and author, Dele Farotimi, following the intervention of key stakeholders.

A notice of discontinuance, dated January 29, was filed at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti under Section 108 (1) (2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The notice, signed by police prosecutor Samson Osubu, requests the court to strike out the case after the nominal complainant, Are Afe Babalola, expressed a desire to withdraw the charges.

As at the time of filing this report, legal representatives for both parties have assembled at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, where the prosecution has served the withdrawal notice to Farotimi’s defense team.

However, the presiding judge is yet to sit and formally strike out the charge.

Meanwhile, a separate charge against Farotimi, filed by the police at the Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, remains pending.

The case is scheduled for hearing on February 13, 2025, though expectations are high that it will also be discontinued before the adjourned date.