The founder of Ado, Ekiti State-based Afe Babalola University, Afe Babalola, has consented to abandon the defamation lawsuits he filed against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.
This came after prominent traditional figures in the South-West, including Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Ooni of Ife, intervened.
Babalola petitioned the Ekiti State police commissioner, claiming that Farotimi had defamed him in a book he wrote. After apprehending Farotimi in Lagos State, the police transported him to Ekiti State, where they charged him in two courts. In the end, the courts held him for weeks.
However, Babalola stated that he had consented to withdraw the lawsuits in the early hours of Monday, January 27, following the monarchs’ intervention at midnight on Sunday, January 26.
According to the senior attorney, he would order his attorneys to drop the matter.
The monarchs that attended Ooni at Babalola’s gathering included the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, and the Oloye of Oye Ekiti.
Babalola claimed that throughout the discussion, he emphasized the value and significance of the Yoruba traditional institution.
According to Babalola, “the monarchs are here; they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”
“I rejected all previous appeals to withdraw the cases from courts because I felt so bad that Farotimi accused me of winning all my cases through corruption,” the nonagenarian added.
The Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe, the Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo were among the notable Nigerians that contacted Babalola to drop the prosecution against Farotimi.
He said that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, and other powerful Yoruba kings’ participation was the main factor in his decision to drop the lawsuits.
“Farotimi’s book contained personal attacks on many judges, including Supreme Court judges,” Babalola said, adding that he was especially troubled by the accusations because of his lowly origins.
He clarified that his motivation was to use his resources for the good of others rather than for his own personal gain, such as money or harm. Babalola claimed that giving brought him joy and that he would not gain from Farotimi’s incarceration or demand for compensation.
Saying that “nobody can tarnish your name,” the Ooni, speaking for the Yoruba kings, asked Babalola to drop the legal action. You have stood for your name with the message that no one can make fun of it because it is more valuable than gold and silver.
Ogunwusi recognized Babalola’s important contributions to Yoruba, Nigeria, and global growth.
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We are utilizing our race in conjunction with the traditional institution because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even outside of Yorubaland have spoken out. We have listened to you just long enough. Your name is still on it. The esteemed traditional monarch declared, “We have taken the necessary action and resolved the matter in our own way.”
On Friday, December 20, Farotimi was reportedly granted N30 million bail by a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The court’s judge, Abayomi Adeosun, granted him bail with two sureties who must be law-abiding citizens with the court seizing the defendant’s foreign passport.
During the course of the case, Farotimi was prohibited from speaking to the media as part of the bail requirement.
Farotimi, who is well-known for his opposition to violations of human rights and support of justice, was taken into custody after Babalola filed a petition.
