Afe Babalola Agrees to Withdraw Defamation Suit Against Dele Farotimi

Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and founder of Afe Babalola University, has agreed to withdraw the criminal defamation and cyberbullying lawsuits filed against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi. This decision was made in the early hours of Monday, January 27, 2025, following an intervention by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other Yoruba traditional rulers during a midnight meeting at Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti.

The lawsuits stemmed from allegations made by Farotimi in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, accusing Babalola of corruption in the judiciary. Farotimi was arrested and arraigned in two courts in Ekiti State: the Magistrate Court for criminal defamation and the Federal High Court for cyberbullying. Despite initial resistance to earlier pleas from figures like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Matthew Kukah, Babalola finally agreed to withdraw the cases out of respect for Yoruba customs and the appeals made by the monarchs.

During the meeting, Babalola emphasized his respect for traditional institutions and stated he would instruct his lawyers to formally withdraw the cases. He also expressed that his actions were not motivated by personal gain but by a desire to uphold his reputation. The traditional rulers present included the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oloye of Oye Ekiti, and Alaaye of Efon Ekiti.