Afe Babalola Withdraws Defamation Suits Against Dele Farotimi

Aare Afe Babalola, founder and chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has dropped all criminal charges against human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi after Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ofunwusi intervened.

Babalola stated this while addressing Journalists on Sunday, noting that he has no choice but to obey the commandments of the traditional institutions, adding that the statement of an Oba in Yoruba traditional from time immemorial is a command.

His charges against Farotimi stemmed from the book titled, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” authored by Dele Farotimi. In the book Farotimi alleged that Babalola corrupted the Judiciary, however, ha a change of heart after a meeting with the Ooni and other monarchs.

His words, “I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for.

“I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, I am happy each time I give”.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Oguwusi had earlier appealed to Babalola to consider the various forces and personalities that have intervened in the matter.

The monarch hailed Babalola and commended his contribution to the development of the Yoruba race, the Nation and the world at large.

“We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed.

“We Obas can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he had invested so hard to build his name and that can not be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.

“Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherished his name and the world has heard him loud and clear.

“Dele Farotimi is your son, we give birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba after a little spank, we also pardon such children”.