Human rights activist Dele Farotimi has responded cryptically after senior lawyer Afe Babalola withdrew the defamation charges he had previously filed against him. This legal battle had led to Farotimi’s detention for 21 days in prison.
Babalola, who is the founder of Afe Babalola University, made the decision to drop the charges against Farotimi after a mediation process led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, along with other traditional rulers. This development comes after a period of legal tension between the two, which captured public attention.
In response to Babalola’s decision, Farotimi took to his X handle, posting a message that referenced a statement he made six years ago. The message, which drew attention to his belief in the triumph of righteousness, read: “Nigeria!!! Bring me my prophet offerings.” This cryptic message seemed to reflect his satisfaction with the recent turn of events, signaling that he had anticipated such an outcome.
Farotimi’s statement about “prophet offerings” references the Christian practice where followers honor prophets—those who are believed to speak about future events. Farotimi had posted a similar message years ago, predicting that justice would prevail despite difficult circumstances.
He wrote at the time, “There’s a shaking afoot, and a separation of the wheat from the chaff. Men shall be tested and assayed, but surely I declare unto the conscious: discountenance the gathering clouds, the righteous shall prevail, accompanied by justice shall reign.”
The dispute between Farotimi and Babalola began after Farotimi accused the senior lawyer of corrupting the Nigerian judiciary in his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. The allegations sparked a defamation lawsuit, which eventually led to the activist’s arrest and subsequent imprisonment.
