Legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, has agreed to withdraw his criminal defamation suit against human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi following the intervention of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other prominent Yoruba traditional rulers,
TheNewsMatrics had reported that Babalola late last year sued Farotimi before an Ekiti Magistrates’ court, claiming criminal defamation in the latter’s controversial book, ”Nigeria and its Criminal Justice system.”
The magistrate after hearing the case later granted Farotimi bail in the sun of N30 million after spending three week in jail.
However, on Sunday night, Ooni of Ife in company of Yoruba traditional rulers such as Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and Olojudo of Ido- Ekiti visited the residence of Afe Babalola to plead with him to withdraw the suit.
Speaking during the meeting, Ooni said Yoruba leaders and the traditional institutions had been following the development keenly.
He added that he and others resolved to intervene so that Babalola, ”can pardon his son, Farotimi.”
He went on to commend the legal luminary for building his integrity over the years and urged him not to relent following the development.
Responding, Babalola said he had received several letters, as well as calls on the issue from eminent Nigerians such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Hassan Kukah asking him to withdraw the suit.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) added that he had no choice than to succumb to the latest pleas by the visiting traditional rulers.
He further stressed that he had nothing to gain in Farotimi being jailed.
Babalola assured the traditional rulers that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.
