The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and top traditional rulers in Ekiti State have succeeded in prevailing on Aare Afe Babalola SAN to withdraw cases against human right lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.
The elder statesman agreed to withdraw the cases after the meeting with the traditional rulers early hour on Monday.
Also in attendance were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.
Farotimi is standing trial for alleged criminal defamation before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, and for alleged cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of Federal High Court.
This is followed by the petition by Chief Afe Babalola to the police commissioner in Ekiti.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria alleged that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
The magistrate court adjourned the case till February 13 and the federal high court till January 29.
Chief Babalola, who spoke on the value of Yoruba traditional institution in the country added, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”
He said that he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.
The senior lawyer listed those who had appealed to him to take the matter out of court including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.
He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.
“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather 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; take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. When Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I said yes. Thank you Kabiyesis, I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”
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