Afe Babalola, SAN, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, has demanded that human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi provide evidence to support claims made in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
Babalola, represented by his legal team—Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade, and Lawrence Fasanmi—asserted that Farotimi’s allegations were baseless and intended to tarnish his decades-long reputation.
Farotimi was arrested in Lagos on Tuesday following a petition by Babalola and arraigned before an Ekiti State Magistrates Court the next day. The petition alleged that the book defamed Babalola and his law firm. It requested the police to confiscate defamatory materials and halt further distribution until investigations are complete.
The court ordered Farotimi’s remand and scheduled the next hearing for December 10, 2024.
Babalola’s lawyers defended the legal actions, stating that freedom of speech does not cover spreading falsehoods that harm another’s reputation. Lead counsel Owoseni Ajayi said:
“Aare Afe Babalola, in his petition, urged the police to invite Mr. Dele Farotimi to prove the truthfulness of his publication, failing which he should be prosecuted for criminal defamation according to Nigerian law.
“The petition also requested confiscation of defamatory materials and a halt to further publication of harmful content against Aare Babalola, his law firm, and the judiciary.”
Ajayi argued that seeking justice is Babalola’s right and not limited to public figures. He added, “Once Mr. Farotimi can prove his assertions are true, he will be free. The law allows free speech, but not one designed to harm another’s good reputation.”
The lawyers maintained that the claims in Farotimi’s book were false, malicious, and intended to damage Babalola’s legacy and the integrity of his law firm.
Ajayi warned that those encouraging Farotimi are not acting in his interest. “By the time they lead him to the dungeon, he will realize they were deceiving him. I advise his family to apologise to Aare. Aare Babalola is a builder, not interested in destroying Farotimi,” he said.
