Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola, has petitioned the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, accusing lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi of defamation. The allegations stem from Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,” which Babalola claims contains false and damaging statements about him and his law firm.
The controversy revolves around a Supreme Court judgment in 2013, involving a land dispute between the Gbadamosi Eletu family and the Ojomu family. Babalola’s legal team successfully argued the case, but Farotimi’s book allegedly suggests that Babalola and his firm compromised the judiciary to secure the judgment.
Babalola’s petition claims that Farotimi’s statements were designed to damage his reputation, discredit his law firm, and erode client trust in his professional ethics. The petition also alleges that Farotimi’s book contains defamatory statements, including accusations that Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court and compromised its integrity ¹
Farotimi was arrested on November 28, 2024, and arraigned before a magistrate in Ado Ekiti, who remanded him in prison until December 10. The arrest has sparked outrage, with many criticizing the use of criminal defamation laws to silence critics .