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.
“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.”
The Ooni of Ife, speaking on behalf of the Yoruba monarchs, praised Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria, and the world. He assured Babalola that his name was intact and that the matter had been resolved through their collective efforts.
“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.”
The Ooni added, “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.”