Dele Farotimi Didn’t Send Ooni, Other Monarchs To Beg Afe Babalola To Withdraw Defamation Case —Source
Afe Babalola’s position was confirmed by Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in a statement by his spokesperson, Moses Olafare.
Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, was not sent by human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi to persuade a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, to drop his defamation case against Farotimi, SaharaReporters has gathered.
A source close to the matter confirmed this to SaharaReporters on Tuesday evening.
In January, Babalola announced his decision to withdraw the criminal defamation case filed against Farotimi.
Babalola made the announcement following the intervention of Yoruba traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, during a midnight meeting at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
Following the appeal of the traditional rulers, Babalola said, “I will instruct my lawyers to withdraw the case.”
Afe Babalola’s position was confirmed by Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in a statement by his spokesperson, Moses Olafare.
The Ooni explained how he led some Ekiti traditional rulers to meet and plead with Mr Babalola to forgive Mr Farotimi.
The cases were initiated after Babalola petitioned the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, alleging that Farotimi defamed him in his book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,’ leading to Farotimi’s arrest and his arraignment in two courts in Ekiti State.
Farotimi faced charges of alleged criminal defamation at an Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti and alleged cyberbullying at the Federal High Court in the Ado Ekiti Division.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the case before the Federal High Court had been withdrawn and later dismissed. However, the next hearing in the case before the Magistrate Court is scheduled for next Thursday, February 13, 2025.
A lawyer privy to the matter maintained that Ooni of Ife and other monarchs met Afe Babalola on their volition and not sent by Dele Farotimi.
The source said: “Dele Farotimi read the news about the Ooni and Afe like every other Nigerian. He was neither consulted nor forewarned about the Oba’s missionary journey to Ado.”
The lawyer added: “The second case comes up next Thursday, and we’ll see how that goes and if they will also withdraw their charges. But we are prepared to open the defence, if they are prepared to proceed as scheduled.”
