Afe Babalola’s Lawyers Gives Condition For Human Rights Lawyer Dele Farotimi Freedom

The legal team of Afe Babalola, SAN, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, has stated that embattled human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi will remain in custody until he substantiates his allegations against the elder statesman.

The senior advocate, represented by his lawyers, Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade and Lawrence Fasanmi, who are former chairmen of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ado Ekiti Branch, spoke on Friday at a press conference in the Ekiti State capital city.

Babalola’s lawyers, who said that he petitioned the police to investigate the defamatory allegations made by Farotimi in the book titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ said charging the activist to court by the law enforcement agency was for the law to take its due cause on the matter.

The lawyers added that the human rights lawyer was out to tarnish Babalola’s reputation, which he had built following many years of hard work and diligent toil.
The police in Ekiti State had, following a petition written by Babalola, arrested Farotimi in Lagos on Tuesday and arraigned him before an Ekiti State Magistrates Court in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday over allegations bordering on defaming the elder statesman.

While the police prayed the court to remand the defendant (Farotimi) to a correctional facility, Farotimi’s lawyer pleaded for bail for his client, but the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered him remanded as he adjourned the matter till December 10, 2024.

Babalola’s lead lawyer and a former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General in Ekiti State, Owoseni Ajayi, said that the press conference was to correct the various misleading publications about the ongoing matter between the Nigerian Police and Farotimi over the issue of defaming Babalola.

He said, “All facts are verifiable. I urge Nigerians to verify and find out what the truth is first before picking a side.

Aare Afe Babalola, in his petition, urged the police to use your good office to invite Mr Dele Farotimi to show proof of the truthfulness of his publication, failing of which he should be prosecuted for criminal defamation in accordance with the requirement of the extant laws of Nigeria.

“Confiscate all defamatory publications until the investigations are completed” and as well “stop Mr Dele Farotimi by himself and/or his agents from further publishing any defamatory contents to attack my hard-earned reputation, the reputation of my law firm and that of my lawyers and of the Nigerian judiciary”.

Ajayi queried, “Is it wrong for Aare Afe Babalola to seek justice for these false utterances against him? Should justice only be available to Mr Dele Farotimi because Aare Afe Babalola is a global icon?

peaceful atmosphere and ensure the safety of lives and property of all and sundry, states that any form of unlawful gathering, demonstration or protest is unacceptable.

“An intelligence report has it that some unscrupulous individuals have planned to hide under this protest to hijack it, unleash mayhem, and create apprehension in the state.

“Parents and guardians are therefore implored to advise their wards to shun any act that is inimical to the peace and security of the state, as anyone who runs foul of this directive will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

“The Command has also placed a ban on the sales and use of fireworks, knockouts and firecrackers in the State, as these are capable of causing security threats, distractions, unnecessary apprehension and health-related issues. The use of the various fireworks at times creates panic and confusion as it could be difficult to differentiate their sounds from the real gunshot sound.

“The Command, therefore, enjoys all residents to be security conscious and to promptly report any untoward incident or observation that may be inimical to the peace and security of Ekiti State to the nearest Police Station or Call 08062335577,” the PPRO stated