DEFAMATION: Afe Babalola to Withdraw Suit against Farotimi
Afe Babalola, a renowned legal icon, has decided to withdraw his criminal defamation suit against rights activist Dele Farotimi.
This development comes after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top Yoruba traditional rulers visited Babalola at his residence in Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) to plead with him to withdraw the suit.¹
Babalola had sued Farotimi over a book published by the latter, which allegedly defamed him.
Speaking at the meeting, Babalola said he had received several letters as well as calls on the issue from eminent Nigerians asking him to withdraw the suit.
He said he had received several letters and calls from eminent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Hassan Kukah, Babalola agreed to withdraw the case.
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According to Babalola, he had nothing to gain from Farotimi’s imprisonment and would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.
He stressed that he had nothing to gain in Farotimi being jailed.
Babalola assured the traditional rulers that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.
Earlier, the Ooni had said Yoruba leaders and the traditional institution had been following the development keenly.
The Ooni of Ife commended Babalola for his integrity and urged him not to relent following the development.
The traditional ruler said that he and others resolved to intervene so that Babalola, ” can pardon his son, Farotimi.”
Recall that Babalola recently dragged Farotimi before an Ekiti Magistrates’ court, claiming criminal defamation in the latter’s controversial book, ” Nigeria and its Criminal Justice system.”
The court granted Farotimi N30 million bail
