Chief Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has decided to withdraw his criminal defamation case against human rights activist Dele Farotimi.
This decision followed the intervention of prominent Yoruba monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, alongside other notable figures.
Speaking on the matter, Chief Babalola explained that he had initially declined several appeals to forgive Farotimi.
He noted, “The Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened. The same goes for Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening. My answer to them has been no, but today my answer is yes.”
Chief Babalola recounted his reasons for rejecting earlier pleas, stating that the allegations against him were attempts to tarnish his reputation.
He added, “I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yet I’m corrupt… I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege that I have won my cases through corruption, it’s an attempt to defame me. That was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me.”
However, the legal icon revealed that the involvement of Oba Ogunwusi and other traditional rulers made him reconsider.
He said, “When I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I was in a fix today. There is nothing I’m going to gain from [Farotimi’s] imprisonment and there’s nothing I want from the so-called damages… Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say yes.”
