Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has leveled a defamation accusation against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.
The claim arises from statements in Farotimi’s recently published book, *Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System*, which Babalola argues tarnish his professional reputation and that of his law firm.
In a petition dated November 19, 2024, addressed to Ekiti State Commissioner of Police Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola described how his law firm discovered defamatory content in Farotimi’s book. The alleged defamation concerns a land dispute case that reached the Supreme Court, involving Babalola’s client, the Gbadamosi Eletu family.
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The case has been ongoing for over two decades and culminated in a 2013 ruling in favor of Babalola’s client.
Babalola’s petition highlighted specific defamatory statements in Farotimi’s book, accusing him of corrupting the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in service of his client.
Babalola also contends that the book wrongfully accused him and his law firm of unethical practices and compromising judicial integrity.
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He expressed alarm over the damage these statements could inflict on his reputation, emphasizing the harm caused by their circulation in the media and on social platforms.
The case at the heart of the controversy involved a 254-hectare land in Lagos, which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Babalola’s client in 2013.
The ruling led to further litigation by various estates affected by the decision, with Farotimi representing one of those entities. Babalola alleges that Farotimi’s book misrepresented the legal proceedings and falsely accused him of manipulating the judiciary.
Babalola, a pillar of the Nigerian legal profession with a six-decade career, called for an immediate investigation into the defamation and the confiscation of all copies of Farotimi’s book.
Farotimi, who was arrested and remanded in prison custody in Ado-Ekiti on December 4, 2024, faces 16 charges of criminal defamation. His arrest followed a police investigation sparked by Babalola’s complaint.
