Prominent lawyer Afe Babalola has decided to withdraw the defamation lawsuits against human rights attorney Dele Farotimi. This decision came after Yoruba traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, intervened during a late-night meeting at Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti.
Babalola had previously filed complaints with the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, alleging that Farotimi defamed him in his book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.” This led to Farotimi’s arrest and charges in both a state magistrate court and a federal high court in Ado Ekiti.
Initially, Babalola resisted appeals from figures like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Matthew Kukah to drop the cases. However, after the monarchs’ plea, he stated, “I will instruct my lawyers to withdraw the case.”
The Ooni of Ife assured Babalola that his reputation remains intact, emphasizing the communal nature of Yoruba culture and the importance of resolving disputes amicably.
