Babalola, Farotimi Settle Feud, Criminal Charges Withdrawn


By our reporter

In a twist, lawyer and and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has dropped criminal defamation charges against his colleague and human rights activist, Dele Farotimi.

At a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, South-West Nigeria, on Sunday evening, January 26, which was attended by several prominent traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the announcement came to light.

Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, where he allegedly accused Babalola of undermining the Nigerian judiciary, was the trigger for the conflict, with Babalola consequently undertaking a chain of actions which led to the arrest, detention, arraignment and remand of Farotimi.

He was later released on bail by a Magistrate’s Court in Ado Ekiti after fulfilling a bail condition of N30million.

The events, which fired up the social media,sparked global interest in the book with reported record sales on Amazon, deepening worldwide interest in Farotimi’s ordeal amid calls from all over the world for his release.

The press conference was attended by monarchs such as the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe; the Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro; the Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado; and the Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju.

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Reports said these kings midwifed peace between the warring parties.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Babalola explained that, after initially resisting numerous interventions from various individuals and groups both within and outside the country, he eventually bowed to the request by the royal fathers.

Stressing the significance of their intervention, Chief Babalola noted that “the statement of an Oba in Yoruba tradition, from time immemorial, is a command.”

Again, he flayed the allegations against him in the book, instead pointing to his contributions to growth and development of society, disclosing that he rejected an oil block, defended the law on Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and refused ministerial appointments,twice.

Babalola’s words: “I rejected an oil block, defended the EFCC law, and rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to trash everything I had worked for.”

Also speaking, prominent traditional ruler and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, lauded Babalola’s contributions to Yorubaland, the country and the world, saying the traditional rulers came together to mediate in the dispute.

The monarch emphasised the importance of reconciliation within the Yoruba community, pointing to similarities between the situation and parental discipline.

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“Dele Farotimi is our son; we give birth to different children in this world, and as elders, when our children offend us, as Yoruba, after a light spanking, we also pardon such children,” he said.

However, it was not possible yet to find out the details of the settlement between the parties.


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