Farotimi: Afe Babalola Sets Conditions for Truce as Obasanjo, Kukah, Others Intervene

The ongoing legal dispute between Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, and Lagos lawyer Dele Farotimi continues to draw attention as new developments emerge. Farotimi, who is facing charges of criminal defamation and cybercrime, has been remanded in Ado-Ekiti Correctional Center since last week.

The defamation case stems from allegations made by Chief Babalola over Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which Babalola claims contains defamatory statements. Farotimi has pleaded not guilty to the charges and is standing trial in both a Magistrate’s Court and the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti.

Recent attempts to mediate the dispute included a visit to Chief Babalola by Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, accompanied by Sola Ebiseni, Southwest Coordinator of the Obi/Datti Presidential Campaign Organization. The duo also visited Farotimi at the correctional facility where he is being held. During their two-hour meeting, Babalola reportedly outlined conditions for resolving the matter. According to sources, he suggested that Farotimi retract his not guilty plea and publish an apology in major newspapers.

Before Obi’s intervention, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, had also reached out to Babalola in a bid to mediate. However, sources disclosed that Farotimi has insisted the charges against him be withdrawn as a precondition for any apology.

The legal proceedings took a contentious turn during the recent Magistrate Court session. Police prosecuting counsel Samson Osobu challenged the right of Farotimi’s Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, to appear in a magistrate’s court. Citing a Court of Appeal ruling, Osobu argued that SANs were restricted from representing clients in such courts. Olumide-Fusika countered by highlighting the provisions of Ekiti State’s magistrate court laws, which allow lawyers of all ranks to appear in criminal cases. The magistrate adjourned the case to review the legal arguments, requesting Olumide-Fusika step down temporarily, allowing another lawyer from the defense team to proceed.

The court premises were filled to capacity during the proceedings, with supporters of both sides clashing outside. Meanwhile, Farotimi’s bail application remains unresolved, and the court has adjourned the matter to December 20.