H uman rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has revealed that he is still facing four separate lawsuits filed across different states by members of the Aare Afe Babalola law firm. His disclosure comes despite the withdrawal of criminal cases previously instituted against him by the firm’s founder, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN).
Farotimi made this revelation during the Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, stating that while the criminal charges had been dropped, civil suits initiated by members of Babalola’s law office remained active.
The legal battle stems from claims of defamation against Farotimi over statements made in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. The activist had been arrested following a petition by Afe Babalola to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, leading to his arraignment before two separate courts in Ekiti State.
While Afe Babalola officially withdrew the petition on January 27, citing the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other prominent traditional rulers, the legal pressure on Farotimi continues.
“Despite the discontinuation of the criminal proceedings, I still have four lawsuits against me in four different states, all filed by members of the same law office,” Farotimi stated during the interview.
Book Not an Idle Talk, But a Well-Researched Work
Farotimi emphasized that his book was a meticulously researched critique of Nigeria’s judicial system, not a casual or defamatory discourse.
“I did not sit in a beer parlour gossiping. I was not at an officers’ mess making idle talk. I wrote a book based on facts and research. Anyone who doubts me can read it and point out any falsehood,” he asserted.
He dismissed claims that the case against him was a personal attack, insisting that the real subject on trial was Nigeria’s legal system.
“This is not a trial of Dele Farotimi. Let nobody be mistaken about that. This is a trial of the legal system we have built as a collective,” he declared.
Critique of Systemic Corruption, Not Individuals
Farotimi reiterated that his book was not a personal attack on Chief Afe Babalola but a broader critique of systemic corruption within the judiciary.
“Chief Afe Babalola is old enough to be my father. I did not set out to destroy him or tarnish his image. My book is about the judiciary as an institution, not about individuals,” he clarified.
He further emphasized that his critique focused on systemic failures rather than defaming anyone.
“Multiple names and offices were mentioned in the book. I simply documented the truth of what I observed. If telling the truth has become a sin in Nigeria, then we must question the society we have built,” he added.
Farotimi: ‘Nigerians Must Confront the Truth’
Farotimi criticized those who condemned his book without reading it, describing their actions as intellectually lazy.
“Ninety percent of those criticizing my book have not read it. If Nigerians would stop being so dismissive and actually read, there would be no debate about the facts I presented,” he argued.
He warned that unless Nigerians confronted uncomfortable truths, meaningful judicial reform would remain elusive.
“We have created a system that rewards deception and punishes honesty. I am being sued not because I lied, but because I dared to speak the truth,” he concluded.
0 Comments