Newsbreak:Babalola sues Farotimi for N500M over publication
By Samuel Ogunsona and Ologeh Joseph Chibu
Notable lawyer Chief Afe Babalola has sued Dele Farotimi for N500 million being damages for his controversial book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”.
According to court papers, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, who is managing partner at Afe Babalola and Co, accuses Farotimi of making “false, mischievous and defamatory” statements in his book.
Babalola said the publication has damaged the repulsion of Babalola and his chambers. He wants the sales of the book to be halted while demanding for apologies in National newspaper.
Farotimi has written the book to expose corruption in the Nigerian Judicials system.
Ogunwumiju said excerpts from Farotimi’s book depicted him and his law firm as unethical lawyers who bribe judges and manipulate the judicial system.
The suit alleges the book, published in 2024, accuses Afe Babalola and Co of “compromising the integrity of the Supreme Court,” scheming with “crooked lawyers and incompetent justices,” and “doctoring” a Supreme Court judgment.
Beyond the monetary damages, Ogunwumiju is asking the court for an order compelling Farotimi to apologize in two national newspapers and halt further sales of the book, which is available in Nigeria and internationally on online platforms like Amazon.
Ogunwumiju denies any wrongdoing and maintains he has never been involved in judicial corruption in his nearly two-decade legal career, which has included representing high-profile government and corporate clients.
“The words complained of are not only false, but also malicious, reckless and defamatory,” the court filings state.
Described in the suit as “one of the most distinguished legal luminaries of his generation,” Ogunwumiju is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association executive council, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, and has headed Afe Babalola’s Abuja office since 2012.
Farotimi, the founding partner of law firm DF Legal in Lagos, reiterated some of the book’s claims during a Channels TV interview in August, according to the suit.
