BREAKING: Afe Babalola backs out of defamation suit against Dele Farotimi

Aare Afe Babalola SAN, Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), has agreed to withdraw the defamation cases filed against activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi.

The development followed the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, alongside other prominent Yoruba monarchs during a midnight meeting held on Monday.

The dispute began after Babalola accused Farotimi of defaming him in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. The accusations led to Farotimi’s arrest and his subsequent arraignment before two courts in Ekiti State: an Ekiti State Magistrate Court for alleged criminal defamation and a Federal High Court for alleged cyber-bullying.

Speaking at ABUAD, Babalola revealed his decision to drop the charges, stating, “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case.” He emphasized that his initial reluctance stemmed from Farotimi’s allegations that he won cases through corruption, a claim that deeply offended him.

Babalola also acknowledged the efforts of various figures who had previously appealed to him to reconsider, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bishop Mathew Kukah, and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe. However, it was the united appeal from the traditional rulers that eventually swayed his decision.

Among the monarchs present at the meeting were the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole; the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

He 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, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”

Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.

“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.”