The Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola SAN, has agreed to withdraw criminal defamation and cyberbullying cases filed against lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi. This decision came after the intervention of Yoruba monarchs led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at a late-night meeting on Monday.
Babalola had petitioned the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, alleging that Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, contained defamatory statements accusing him of corruption and tarnishing his reputation. Following the petition, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court and the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, facing 16 charges of criminal defamation and cyberbullying.
During the meeting held at Afe Babalola University, Babalola, moved by the monarchs’ appeal, stated, “The monarchs are here. They have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt. I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case.”
Babalola expressed his initial reluctance to drop the case, citing the personal impact of the allegations. “If you go through the pamphlet, you will find that he attacked many judges by name, including Supreme Court judges. None is bothered, but I am. I am bothered because of how I started life—from the farm to where I am today. There is nothing I will gain from his imprisonment or damages,” he said.
The intervention was supported by prominent Yoruba monarchs, including the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare. They joined the Ooni of Ife in urging Babalola to forgive and withdraw the cases.
Oba Ogunwusi praised Babalola’s contributions to the Yoruba race and his commitment to integrity. “Your name is more than silver and gold. Nobody can tarnish your name. We, the obas, acknowledge your hard work and appeal to you to let this matter rest,” he said.
Babalola noted that several prominent figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Mathew Kukah, had previously appealed to him without success. However, he agreed to the monarchs’ request, saying, “The request is simple: take away this criminal case. When Obasanjo wrote to me, I said no. When Kukah phoned, I said no. But today, I say yes. Thank you, Kabiyesis.”
In his remarks, the Ooni reiterated the importance of Yoruba traditional values in resolving conflicts, saying, “Dele Farotimi is your son. We birth different children—some tough, some soft, and some hard. As a race, we have resolved the matter. Your name is intact.”
Farotimi’s book had alleged that Babalola and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria influenced Supreme Court justices through corruption. However, with Babalola’s decision to withdraw the cases, the legal battle appears to have reached a resolution through traditional and cultural diplomacy.
