The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Ekiti State, Aare Afe Babalola has accepted to withdraw criminal defamation charges against human rights activist, Mr. Dele Farotimi.
This followed the appeal by foremost Yoruba monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Oguwusi. They pleaded with legal icon to drop the charges during a meeting with him at ABUAD campus.
Other prominent monarchs present at the parley were the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe; the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu, the Oloye of Oloye Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, among others.
Farotimi is facing criminal defamation and cybercrime charges in an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court and the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.
The defamation charge stems from the allegations in Farotimi’s book entitled “Nigeria and its criminal justice system” that accused Babalola of influencing Supreme Court judges.
Upon his not guilty plea, the Magistrates’ Court remanded the human right lawyer and later admitted him to N30m bail. The Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, also granted him N50 million bail.
Addressing newsmen after a closed- door meeting with Babalola in Ado-Ekiti at the wee hours on Monday, Oba Ogunwusi, said Yoruba leaders and stakeholders were following the event keenly and had to appeal to Aare Babalola to Pardon his son, Farotimi
He commended Babalola for building his integrity over the years adding that no one could rubbish his name.
“We are coming together as a race to take this thing from you. Baba, you have told the world and they have heard you clearly. We can see that you have fought every battle to sustain that name you have built.
“Nobody can rubbish your name. You have proven to the world that this is what you stand for. We are very proud of you. It’s a lesson for us as a race. We want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. It is not your wish but we are taking it because of the race.
“Dele Farotimi is your son and you might not know him. Why we are here is our ethos as a race and we cannot take anything that is so hard for you. We are using the race because our elders too have spoken. Combining traditional institutions is what we are using to take this from you,” Oba Ogunwusi added.
In his response to the appeal by the monarchs, Babalola said that he had received several letters and calls on the issue, particularly from notable Nigerians including former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Kukah but said that he rejected their appeal
Babalola added that he had nothing to gain in the imprisonment of Farotimi, saying that with Ooni and other monarchs intervention, he had no option but to accede to their request.
The Elder statesman said that he would instruct his lawyers to discontinue the case before the court.
He said: “There is nothing I am going to gain by his imprisonment. If I sue him, there is nothing I will gain from any damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather, on how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.
“The request is simple. When Olusegun Obasanjo came, I said no, when Rev Mathew Kukah came, I said no. I have their letters here but on this occasion, I say yes.”
