D espite the recent withdrawal of a lawsuit by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Afe Babalola, concerns continue to swirl around the status of several other pending legal actions against lawyer and rights activist Mr. Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi, who was arrested and charged with 12 counts of cybercrime and 16 counts of criminal defamation based on Babalola’s petition, is facing multiple lawsuits, with claims for over ₦1 billion in damages. These lawsuits add to the ongoing legal challenges against him, casting a shadow over his legal and professional standing.
Ongoing Legal Battles for Farotimi
On December 6, 2024, SAN Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju filed a suit against Farotimi for alleged defamatory statements in his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. Ogunwumiju, the Managing Partner at Afe Babalola & Co, is seeking ₦500 million in damages and has asked the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja to prevent the book’s publication and sales in both physical and online bookstores. He also requested the seizure of all existing copies of the book and demanded that Farotimi publish an apology in two national newspapers.
Just days later, on December 11, 2024, another lawyer from Babalola’s firm, Mr. Ola Faro, took legal action against Farotimi. Faro claims that the same book defamed him, Babalola, and their law firm by falsely accusing them of compromising the integrity of the Supreme Court. Faro is seeking ₦500 million in damages for defamation and an additional ₦100 million for the book’s distribution.
Police Involvement and Ongoing Investigations
Amid these legal battles, Farotimi's situation has been further complicated by ongoing police investigations. On December 3, 2024, Farotimi was arrested in Lagos following repeated attempts by the police to bring him in for questioning. According to the Ekiti State Police Command, Farotimi was arrested under a warrant after allegations of defamation of character and cyberbullying were brought to the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State.
Although a police prosecutor, Samson Osobu, applied for the withdrawal of cybercrime charges against Farotimi during a hearing at the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, last Wednesday, the legal troubles for Farotimi are far from over. A separate criminal charge brought against him by the police is still unresolved, with the case set to continue on February 13, 2025.
Traditional Intervention and Future Proceedings
The intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other traditional rulers in the dispute between Babalola and Farotimi has helped in facilitating the withdrawal of some charges. However, with multiple lawsuits still in play and the unresolved criminal charges, Farotimi’s legal battles are expected to persist as he seeks resolution in the courts.
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