Afe Babalola Secures Court Order to Ban Farotimi’s Book, Seize Royalties

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an ex-parte order halting the production and distribution of the controversial book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System” by human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi. The book, which has sparked significant public debate due to its allegations of judicial manipulation, recently became a global bestseller in the politics category on Amazon.

Farotimi, who was arrested on December 3 by armed police officers and transported from his office in Lagos to Ekiti, was subsequently arraigned in Ado-Ekiti for alleged criminal defamation. The defamation claims stem from the book’s accusations that prominent lawyer Afe Babalola, SAN, manipulated the judiciary to secure favorable rulings for his clients. The book’s allegations have drawn intense scrutiny and widespread condemnation, particularly regarding Babalola’s involvement in using the police to target Farotimi.

In a legal move filed by Afe Babalola’s law firm, the court granted an interlocutory injunction demanding the immediate cessation of all sales and distribution of the book, both physical and digital. The court also ordered the seizure of royalties from the book’s sales. This legal action, filed by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, on December 6, 2024, seeks to stop Farotimi and all associated parties, including bookstores and online retailers like Amazon, from distributing or promoting the book.

The injunction includes specific orders for the seizure of physical copies of the book, which must be halted from circulation by all involved parties, including prominent Nigerian bookstores. Sources have confirmed that stores, including those in Abuja, have complied with the court order and ceased selling the book.

This legal action follows the book’s rapid rise in popularity, fueled by praise for its critical examination of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.