Legal Insight: Why Afe Babalola Withdrew His Defamation Suit Against Farotimi
Legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has announced his decision to withdraw the defamation suit filed against human rights activist Dele Farotimi.
This decision follows a visit by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, accompanied by other prominent Yoruba traditional rulers, to Babalola’s residence at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), on Sunday night.
Babalola had previously sued Farotimi over allegations of criminal defamation stemming from Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.” The legal proceedings led to Farotimi’s arrest and subsequent remand.
During the meeting, the Ooni, along with other traditional rulers, appealed to Babalola to forgive Farotimi and withdraw the legal action. Babalola acknowledged receiving numerous appeals from eminent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Hassan Kukah, urging him to drop the case.
He expressed that he had nothing to gain from Farotimi’s imprisonment and assured the monarchs that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the suit.