Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has accused lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi of defaming him in a recently published book titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The allegations were detailed in a petition dated November 19, addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale. Babalola claimed the book contained defamatory statements concerning a Supreme Court judgment on a land dispute spanning over two decades, in which his law firm represented one of the parties.
In his petition, Babalola stated that the book accused him and his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co, of corrupt practices, including influencing the judiciary to secure a favorable outcome. “The book falsely alleged that I corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment for my client,” he wrote.
The contentious case involved a 254-hectare parcel of land in Lagos, which was awarded to Babalola’s client, the Gbadamosi Eletu family, by the Supreme Court in 2013. The judgment later became a subject of criticism, especially from affected residential estates like Pinnock Estate and NICON Estate, who subsequently filed new suits.
According to Babalola, Farotimi’s commentary in the book and his media interviews not only misrepresented the facts but also sought to tarnish his reputation, discredit his law firm, and undermine his decades-long professional integrity.
Key Defamatory Statements
Babalola’s petition outlined excerpts from Farotimi’s book, including claims that his firm “compromised the Supreme Court” and “led the judiciary into corruption.” Another excerpt accused Babalola of leveraging his influence to deny justice in a libel suit filed against him.
“These statements are baseless and designed to destroy my reputation. They have caused significant distress and cast doubts on my professional ethics,” Babalola wrote.
Legal Fallout
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos by Ekiti State police officers and arraigned before a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti on a 16-count charge of criminal defamation. He was subsequently remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
Babalola called for the immediate recovery of all copies of the book and demanded an investigation into Farotimi’s claims. He also urged the authorities to prevent further distribution of the publication, which he described as a deliberate attack on his character.
Background to the Case
The land dispute dates back to the 1970s, involving a sale by the Ojomu family to Babalola’s client, Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu. The Lagos State Government later acquired the land, leading to legal battles over ownership. The Supreme Court, in its 2013 judgment, ruled in favor of the Eletu family, declaring that the Ojomu family acted in bad faith by attempting to reclaim the property.
However, the judgment’s aftermath saw fresh litigations by estates affected by the ruling. Farotimi, representing one of these estates, criticized the judgment in his book, alleging fraud and misconduct by Babalola and his firm.
Babalola’s Response
Babalola defended the integrity of his legal career, which spans over six decades, emphasizing that the accusations are unfounded. “I have always conducted my practice with integrity, professionalism, and respect for the rule of law,” he stated.
The legal luminary reiterated his commitment to holding those responsible for the defamatory statements accountable, describing Farotimi’s allegations as “reckless and damaging” to his reputation and the legal profession.
The case has sparked widespread reactions, with many in the legal community awaiting the outcome of the investigation and court proceedings.
