Afe Babalola withdraws suits against Farotimi after Ooni, monarchs’ intervention
Aare Afe Babalola SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti, agreed to withdraw the cases filed against activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi on Monday morning.Following Babalola's petition to the Ekiti State police commissioner alleging that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled 'Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,' the police arrested the activist lawyer and arraigned him in two Ekiti courts.
As a result, Farotimi faced trial for alleged criminal defamation in an Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti District, as well as alleged cyberbullying in the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court.
However, Babalola, who spoke at ABUAD following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers at the midnight meeting, stated that he had agreed to withdraw the criminal case, saying, "I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case."
The Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; 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 Alade.
Babalola, who emphasized the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and its influence, stated, "The monarchs are here; they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving someone who claimed I was corrupt."
The senior advocate stated that he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all of his cases through corruption, so he rejected all previous requests to withdraw the cases from court.
He named those who had urged him to settle the case out of court, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah, and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.
He stated, "If you read the pamphlet (Farotimi's book), you will notice that he attacked many judges by name, including Supreme Court judges, and no one is bothered, but I am." I'm bothered because of where and how I began my life, from the farm to where I am today.
"I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I will gain from so-called damages. I'm not looking for more money; rather, I'm looking for ways to use what I have to help others. I am only happy when I am giving.
"The request is simple: drop this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote about coming here, I said no. When Kukah called and came, I said no, but this time I said yes. Thank you, Kabiyesis. I will speak with my lawyers about withdrawing it."
The Ooni, speaking on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had asked Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that "nobody can tarnish your name." Your name is more valuable than silver and gold, and you have stood up for it by stating that no one should make fun of it."
Ogunwusi, who recognized Babalola's contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria, and the world, stated, "We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him, and he showed full respect to the obas and agreed.
"We, the obas, can attest to Aare Afe Babalola's hard work and dedication to building his name. Nobody can tarnish or rubbish the name. Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated to the world that he values his name, and the world has heard him clearly.
"Baba, we want to make an appeal while also instructing you about our race. Dele Farotimi is your son; you may not know him. We give birth to various children in this world; some are tough, some are soft, and some are hard. The reason we're here is our race's ethos."
The Ooni continued, "We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but by combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough, and enough. Your name remains intact. We resolved the issue in our own way, and we completed the necessary tasks."
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