Ooni’s Intervention Leads Afe Babalola to Drop Case Against Farotimi

Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, which is situated in Ado, Ekiti State, has consented to abandon the defamation lawsuits he filed against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.

Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, and other prominent traditional leaders in the South-West intervened after this.

In an Ekiti State police commissioner’s plea, Babalola claimed that Farotimi had defamed him in a book he wrote. Farotimi was detained by the police in Lagos State and taken to Ekiti State, where he was charged in two courts. He was ultimately held for weeks by the courts.

After the monarchs intervened at midnight on Sunday, January 26, Babalola stated before ABUAD in the early hours of Monday, January 27, that he had consented to drop the lawsuits.

The senior attorney promised to order his attorneys to drop the lawsuit.

The Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti were among the monarchs who accompanied Ooni to the gathering that Babalola held.

Babalola claimed to have emphasized the value of the Yoruba traditional institution throughout the conference.

“They have appealed to me regarding a criminal charge involving someone who claimed that I was corrupt; the monarchs are here,” Babalola added.

The nonagenarian claimed that he rejected all previous requests for him to drop the cases from the courts because he felt terrible that Farotimi had accused him of using bribes to win all of his cases.

Babalola claimed that other well-known Nigerians, such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Catholic Bishop Mathew Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese, and Oba Adejugbe, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, had contacted him to withdraw the prosecution against Farotimi.

He said that his decision to drop the lawsuits was finally influenced by the intervention of Oba Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, and other powerful Yoruba kings.

Babalola claimed that although Farotimi’s book included personal attacks on a number of judges, including those on the Supreme Court, he was especially troubled by the criticisms due to his lowly origins.

He clarified that he was driven by a desire to use his resources for the good of others rather than by a desire for wealth or other forms of personal gain. Babalola claimed that he would not profit from Farotimi’s incarceration or his pursuit of damages because he found joy in donating.

Speaking for the Yoruba monarchs, the Ooni asked Babalola to drop the legal action, telling him that “nobody can tarnish your name.” Your name is more valuable than gold and silver, and you have stood up for it by stating that no one should make fun of it.

Babalola’s important contributions to the advancement of Yoruba, Nigeria, and the world were recognized by Ogunwusi.

Since some of our elders in Yorubaland and even outside of Yorubaland have spoken, we are using our race while working with the traditional institution. You’ve been heard enough, and too much. Your name is still there. The esteemed traditional leader declared, “We have handled the situation in our own manner; we have taken the necessary action.”

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According to reports, Farotimi was given N30 million bail by a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Friday, December 20.

Abayomi Adeosun, the court’s judge, granted him bail with two sureties who must be law-abiding citizens and the court seizing the defendant’s foreign passport.

Farotimi was prohibited from speaking to the media while the case was pending as part of the bail requirement.

Famous for his opposition to violations of human rights and support of justice, Farotimi was detained when Babalola filed a petition.
According to Babalola’s book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” the accused defamed him.