Newsbreak: Afe Babalola drop charges against Dele Farotimi as Ooni wades in

By Samuel Ogunsona

Aare Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, has agreed to drop defamation charges against human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.

This decision came after the intervention of Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, and other prominent Yoruba kings in Yorubaland.

The Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements, (AYDM) praised the decision of Babalola to forgive the lawyer.

“Yoruba jurisprudence is older and richer than British legal system. In Yoruba jurisprudence, all parties have portions of blame and portions of gains. It is not a winners take all. Law in Yoruba history is rich in dialectic. The Judge apportion blame, guilt and obligation to the Plaintif, the accused, the society, the law enforcers also and even the Judge has a share of guilt. The driving force of law in Yoruba culture is sustainable peace and harmony for all parties not for one of the parties,” the AYDM General Secretary, Popoola Ajayi said in a chat with Irohinoodua.

He said the Ooni and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti explored Yoruba jurisdiction in resolving the dispute adding that the mechanism is “time saving, cheap and cost effective” adding that the South West area would be better off if Yoruba Jurisdiction becomes the legal system.

Farotimi had authored a book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” where he alleged that Afe Babalola bribed the judiciary and illegally procured judgments in the Supreme Court.

These allegations led to Farotimi’s arrest and arraignment in court for criminal charges.

Afe Babalola stated that he had received appeals from various traditional institutions, respected personalities, and prominent Nigerians, including Bishop Kukah and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to pardon Farotimi.

He emphasized that he has nothing to gain from Farotimi’s imprisonment and is happy to give and maintain his integrity.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, had appealed to Afe Babalola to consider the interventions and pardon Farotimi.

He praised Afe Babalola’s contributions to the development of the Yoruba race and the world at large.

“We all came together to discuss the matter with him, and he gave full respect to the Obas and agreed to drop the charges,” Ooni said.

“Dele Farotimi is your son; we gave birth to different children in this world, and as elders, when our children offend us as Yoruba, we spank and we also pardon such a child”

“Agba ni n gba a si ti fi ese ile to o” he concluded.