Dele Farotimi Clarifies He Did Not Involve Ooni and Other Monarchs in Defamation Case with Afe Babalola

 Dele Farotimi Clarifies He Did Not Involve Ooni and Other Monarchs in Defamation Case with Afe Babalola

In a recent clarification regarding the ongoing legal battle between human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Afe Babalola, Farotimi confirmed that he did not request the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, or any other traditional rulers to resolve the defamation case against him.



The dispute traces back to Farotimi's book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, which Babalola claimed contained defamatory content. This led Babalola to take legal action against Farotimi for criminal defamation and cyberbullying.

However, reports emerged in January 2025 indicating that the Ooni, alongside a delegation of Yoruba traditional rulers, had visited Afe Babalola at his university, Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti, in a bid to mediate the situation. Following their intervention, Babalola agreed to withdraw the defamation lawsuit, a decision that was widely publicized.

Despite these developments, Farotimi has now clarified that he was neither involved in nor consulted about the intervention by the traditional rulers. A close source to Farotimi stated, "Dele Farotimi read the news about the Ooni and Afe like every other Nigerian. He was neither consulted nor forewarned about the Oba’s missionary journey to Ado."



Following the withdrawal of the criminal defamation case, legal experts confirmed that the charges against Farotimi have been dropped. However, the matter is far from over, as a civil suit seeking over ₦1 billion in damages remains unresolved. The next hearing for the civil suit is scheduled for February 13, 2025.

This recent clarification underscores the pivotal role traditional rulers have played in resolving legal conflicts in the region. While Farotimi distanced himself from the mediation efforts, the intervention demonstrates the influence of Nigeria’s monarchs in navigating high-profile legal matters.

As the civil suit continues, all eyes are now on the upcoming hearing, where the remaining legal challenges between the parties will be addressed. The ongoing developments highlight the evolving role of traditional institutions in Nigerian jurisprudence, setting the stage for what could be a landmark resolution.

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