Why Afe Babalola Succumbed To Withdraw Suit Against Dele Farotimi

Following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who led other traditional rulers on Sunday night to meet with legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, the Ekiti State born lawyer has accepted to withdraw the criminal defamation suit he filed against human rights activist, Dele Farotimi.

Chief Babalola, SAN, had sued Farotimi in an Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court in which he claimed that the book published by Dele Farotimi allegedly defamed him.

The Ooni in company of some other traditional rulers that included; the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and Olojudo of Ido- Ekiti among others, arrived at the premises of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) at about 10.08 pm.

In his remarks while welcoming his guests, Chief Babalola said he had received several letters as well as calls on the issue from eminent Nigerians that included former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah, urging him to withdraw the suit.

He said that following such interventions, he had no choice than to succumb to the latest pleas by the eminent traditional rulers, stressing that he had nothing to gain in Farotimi being jailed and assured the traditional rulers that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.

A statement by Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media & Public Affairs in the Ooni’s Palace said that the Ooni said that Yoruba leaders and the traditional institution had been following the development keenly which made him and others to resolve to intervene so that Babalola can pardon his son, Farotimi.

While briefing journalists on the outcome of the meeting which held behind closed doors, the Ooni accompanied by Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu, Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti who is the Chairman of Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro, said that having watched the scenarios surrounding the criminal case instituted against Dele Farotimi with rapt attention, it has become very imperative to apply Alternative Dispute Resolution method which Yoruba race was known for in the past because it’s a case between father and son.

He said; “We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son; Dele Farotimi and what we want from him is to withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi today.

“Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elder stateman, you have seen it all. You are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elder stateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country.

“This is what we are using to bring down the tempo in what has happened between you and your son, Dele Farotimi. We have been very proud of you as a great Yoruba elder stateman. You have done great things for this race and Nigeria such that your name can never be forgotten.”

“We’ve all come together as traditional Rulers to discuss with you on this issue and this gentleman Dele Farotimi is your son and you must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him. As a father, you have soft sons and you have tough sons, Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name can not be messed with,” the Ooni said.

Accordingly, Chief Afe Babalola declared that he has accept to withdraw the suit against Farotimi saying; “I hereby withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi”.

Babalola said that he grew up as a child to understand such interventions by the traditional rulers thus, said that he has not only forgiven Dele Farotimi, but also will instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect, because of the honour for the Ooni and the other Obas.

He further said; “Today is a very important day for me, I’m a Yoruba man and I’m very proud to be one. Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened, same with 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”.

“Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money. Who am I? When the colonialists came here in 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with an advanced systems of government with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands”.

“In the middle ages, the Greeks had a saying “the meadow that grow on the bank of a river which obeys the direction of the flood remains strong forever but the meadow that grow that disobey the direction of the flood were broken asunder”.

Babalola concluded his response with a an adage in Yoruba saying; “Eni ti o ba nI nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara” meaning “those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism”.

He further said; “I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law. If I’m corrupt, I was given an oil block, when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much, I rejected it. Yet, I’m corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, I rejected it. Yes, I’m corrupt because whatever I am, I don’t want anybody to say I made it through corruption.

“Look at my books, I’m Chairman, Transparency International based in Germany. I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege me 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. But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I’m in a fix today. “Nkan de o”. There is nothing I’m going to gain from his (Dele) imprisonment and there is nothing I want from the so called damages.

“I am not in quest of more wealth, I’m rather concerned on managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say “YES”.