Afe Babalola’s Legal Team Asserts Dele Farotimi Must Prove Defamation Claims
Legal representatives of Afe Babalola, SAN, founder of Afe Babalola University, have confirmed that human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi will remain in police custody until he provides evidence to support his defamatory claims against Babalola. The allegations stem from Farotimi’s publication, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, in which he accused Babalola of corrupting the judiciary.
Afe Babalola’s lawyers—led by Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade, and Lawrence Fasanmi, all former chairpersons of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ado Ekiti Branch—spoke at a press conference in Ekiti State. They emphasized that Babalola had formally requested the police to investigate Farotimi’s statements and hold him accountable for defamation.
Legal Proceedings
In response to Babalola’s petition, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos and brought before an Ekiti State court, where he faced charges of criminal defamation. Despite Farotimi’s legal team seeking bail, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun remanded him in custody, and the case was adjourned until December 10, 2024.
Ajayi, speaking on behalf of Babalola, stressed that Farotimi must prove the truth of his assertions or face legal consequences. He noted that free speech is protected, but not at the cost of damaging someone’s reputation through false claims.
Babalola’s Defense and Call for Justice
Babalola’s counsel firmly defended his client’s reputation, asserting that the defamation was intended to harm Babalola’s decades of hard work and his standing as a prominent legal figure. Ajayi questioned whether it was wrong for Babalola to seek justice for what he described as “false utterances.”
Ajayi also pointed out that Farotimi’s statements in the book violated the Criminal Code Act by publishing false information likely to cause public fear and harm, and potentially violating Section 59, which prohibits the publication of false news with intent to cause alarm.
Conclusion
The legal team for Afe Babalola maintains that justice must prevail and that Farotimi should be held accountable for any baseless and offensive remarks that tarnish Babalola’s reputation. They called on Farotimi to show proof of his claims, warning that those encouraging him could eventually harm his position.
