Chief Afe Babalola, founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, has agreed to withdraw defamation cases against rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi had been facing charges that got him reminded in prison for weeks after Chief Babalola, a prominent Nigerian lawyer, petitioned the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, on November 19, 2024, alleging Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, tarnished his reputation.
In the book, Farotimi is said to have accused Babalola and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria of influencing Supreme Court justices through corruption.
Huhuonline.com reports that seaking at the university on Monday after an intervention by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers in an overnight meeting, Afe Babalola declared: “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case.
“The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”
Some of those who attended the meeting included the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.
Babalola said he was not happy that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption. He said this was why he rejected all previous appeals to him to take the cases out of court.
He, however, noted that his change of mind at this time is because of the importance he attaches to the Yoruba tradition and culture.
He said top leaders including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe had previously appealed to him.
“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.
“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.
“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the other traditional rulers, the Ooni said: “nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.
“We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.
“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.
“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.
“We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our own way, we have done the needful.”
