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Why I withdrew Suits against Dele Farontimi – Afe Babalola

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Renowned lawyer and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola SAN, has agreed to withdraw the cases instituted against activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

The decision comes after a midnight meeting with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers.

It can be recalled that Babalola petitioned the police commissioner in Ekiti State, alleging that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’. Consequently, Farotimi was arrested and arraigned before two courts in Ekiti for alleged criminal defamation and cyber-bullying.

Despite pleas from prominent personalities, Babalola went on with the defamation suits. He said appeals were made to him from former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah and others.

However, after the intervention of the Ooni and other traditional rulers, Babalola agreed to withdraw the cases.

Speaking at ABUAD, the lawyer said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.

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I’m ready for war’ – Dele Farotimi dares Afe Babalola

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Embattled human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, on Sunday said he is ready to face his ongoing trial.

Farotimi said his battle axes have been sharpened, and his guns primed, ready for war.

Posting on X, the activist lawyer said he’s strong enough to confront principalities and powers.

“I am strong enough to rumble unruffled against principalities and powers, but I am human enough to retain the capacity to shed tears of joy in appreciation of the grace of God, expressed in the concerted efforts of fellow victims.

“My battle axes are newly sharpened, my guns primed, I am ready to war.

“My resolve was NEVER tested, but I was waiting for next round of the fight to commence.

“I KNEW that the first round had been lost by those responsible for my imprisonment.”

A few weeks ago, a Chief Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti had granted Farotimi N30 million bail.

Farotimi was subsequently freed after meeting his bail conditions.

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Afe Babalola: Amazon lists Dele Farontimi’s book on Nigerian judiciary as number one bestseller worldwide

by Folarin Kehinde
written by Folarin Kehinde

Global tech and retail giant Amazon has listed a Nigerian-themed book as its number one bestseller in global politics after its author was arrested on the orders of a controversial lawyer and businessman.

Dele Farotimi’s ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’ surged to the first position on Amazon Thursday morning, after trending starting Wednesday afternoon, Peoples Gazette checks showed.

The demand for Mr Farotimi’s on global platforms like Amazon followed a similar rush to bookstores across Nigeria, where citizens were curious to learn its content.

The global interest followed Mr Farotimi’s arrest on the orders of Afe Babalola, a 93-year-old senior Nigerian lawyer who corruption allegations have long dogged. Nigerian-themed rarely make Amazon’s bestselling chart, and Mr Farotimi’s book beat globally-acclaimed works like ‘Why Nations Fail’.

Mr Farotimi, a retired lawyer based in Lagos, used the book to criticise corruption in the Nigerian judiciary and specifically namechecked Mr Babalola as one of the top offenders.

Mr Babalola “compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had,” Mr Farotimi wrote while narrating a case in which the nonagenarian lawyer approached “the Supreme Court and got that court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-abnegation.”

The book, published in July 2024, buttressed a longstanding public suspicion that Mr Babalola was among those befouling the Nigerian judicial by corrupting judges with cash and material bribes to influence judges from lower courts to the Supreme Court.

The book saw low sales following its publication until Mr Farotimi was seized by armed policemen in Lagos on Tuesday morning and subsequently transported to Ado Ekiti, about 300 kilometres northeast of the nation’s commercial capital, where Mr Babalola is best known as the largest employer of labour.

Following his initial arraignment on Wednesday morning in Ekiti, a judge remanded Mr Farotimi in custody pending a bail hearing on December 10. The police said the book “was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace,” according to the charge sheet seen by The Gazette.

Mr Babalola has long faced public criticism as one of the senior lawyers notorious for their ability to influence court judgements across the country, eroding public trust in the Nigerian judiciary. He has often denied the allegations, but some judges have lamented how some lawyers were known for their ability to undermine the judicial system by buying judgements. He was not specifically mentioned in the allegations by retired Justice Dattijo Muhammad.

The detention has sparked public outrage, with Nigerians demanding Mr Farotimi’s release while raining invective against Mr Babalola, who is widely adjudged the most influential private citizen in Ekiti State.

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