Renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola, has accused lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi of defamation in his recently published book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The allegations arise from a long-standing Supreme Court case concerning a land dispute that has persisted for over two decades.
In a petition submitted on November 19 to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola outlined how his law firm came across the book and its allegedly defamatory statements.
He claims that the book contains numerous false assertions that undermine his integrity and accuse his law firm of unethical practices, including judicial corruption.
Babalola's petition states, “I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’” related to Suit No: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.
He specifically cited statements in the book that claim he had corrupted the Supreme Court and facilitated fraudulent judgments.
Babalola recounted that on November 2, 2024, one of his lawyers purchased Farotimi’s book at Murtala Muhammed Airport and subsequently alerted him to its contents.
He noted that several of his colleagues also acquired and read the book, which he claims falsely portrays him as having compromised the judiciary.
The petition details specific defamatory statements made by Farotimi, including accusations that Babalola's actions led to egregious injustices within the Supreme Court.
Babalola asserts that these claims are not only false but were intentionally crafted to damage his reputation and diminish trust in his law firm among clients.
