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.
