Osamagbe Imadiyi
Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, has agreed to drop the criminal defamation charges against human rights activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi. This followed an appeal by prominent Yoruba monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Oguwusi, and other prominent Ekiti monarchs. They met with the legal icon at the ABUAD campus and begged him to drop the charges. The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu, the Oloye of Oloye Ekiti, the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti were among the other notable monarchs who attended the parley.
Farotimi is being charged with cybercrime and criminal defamation in the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, as well as in an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court. The charges of defamation are based on claims made in Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and its criminal justice system,” that Babalola influenced Supreme Court justices.
After he entered a not guilty plea, the human rights lawyer was remanded by the Magistrates’ Court and subsequently granted N30 million bail. Additionally, he was granted N50 million bail by the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti.
Following a private meeting with Babalola in Ado-Ekiti early on Monday, Oba Ogunwusi told reporters that Yoruba leaders and other interested parties were closely monitoring the situation and had to ask Aare Babalola to pardon his son Farotimi.
He said that no one could disparage Babalola’s reputation and praised him for developing his integrity over the years. “As a race, we are uniting to take this away from you. Baba, the world has clearly heard what you have to say. We can see that you have put up a fight to maintain the reputation you have established.
“No one can disparage your name. You have demonstrated to the world your commitment to this ideal. You have our utmost pride. We as a race can learn from it. In addition to appealing, we wish to educate you through our race. Because of the race, we are taking it even though you do not want to”.
Babalola went on to say that he had nothing to gain from Farotimi’s imprisonment and that he was forced to comply with their request due to the intervention of Ooni and other monarchs.
