Legal Battle Continues: Farotimi Opens Up on Ongoing Lawsuits
Renowned activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has disclosed that he is still entangled in four legal battles across different states, despite an earlier announcement by Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) withdrawing criminal charges against him.
Speaking on the Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, Farotimi clarified that while the police dropped the criminal defamation charges following Babalola’s petition withdrawal, civil lawsuits from the legal luminary’s firm persist.
The Backstory: What Led to the Legal Battle?
Farotimi was previously arrested and arraigned after Afe Babalola accused him of defamation in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The book, which critiques systemic corruption within the judiciary, led to criminal charges against him in Ekiti State Magistrate Court and the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti.
However, following interventions by top traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Babalola announced the withdrawal of his petition.
Despite this, four lawsuits remain active, all filed by members of Afe Babalola’s law firm.
Farotimi’s Stand: “This Is Not About Me, It’s About the System”
Farotimi insists that the real issue at stake is Nigeria’s flawed judicial system, not a personal conflict with Afe Babalola.
“This is not a trial of Dele Farotimi. Let nobody make that error. It is a trial of the legal system that we have built as a collective.”
He further defended his book, emphasizing that it was not based on gossip or idle talk, but on well-researched facts.
“I did not sit down in a beer parlour; I was not gossiping. I wrote a book. If anyone disagrees, let them read it and challenge me on the facts.”
“Nigerians Must Face the Truth”
Farotimi criticized those who dismissed his book without reading it, labeling their reaction as intellectual laziness.
“Ninety percent of those attacking me have not even read my book. If Nigerians would stop being so philistinic and illiterate, they would understand the truth.”
He argues that Nigeria’s justice system punishes truth-tellers while rewarding deception, warning that this culture must change for real reforms to happen.
What’s Next for Farotimi?
As the legal battle rages on, Farotimi remains resolute in his fight for justice, stating that he will continue speaking out against judicial corruption.
Meanwhile, the fate of the four civil lawsuits remains uncertain.
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