An Ado-Ekiti Magistrate court has remanded a Lagos based human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, over an alleged case of defamation against Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), a legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University.
Farotimi was arrested at his chamber in Lagos on Tuesday by officers from Ekiti State Police Command.
He was subsequently arraigned on Wednesday for allegedly publishing a book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” where he alleged that Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the supreme court there by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage his hard earn career.
The charges partly read, “COUNT X: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally defamed the person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb in page 70-71, of the said book where you stated: “But the court as though enthralled by whatever Afe the Circus Master had Promised the Justices, acted with utmost carelessness about the integrity of the court, the interest of the citizens and the State that they had been sworn to protect.”The conspiracy was always a step ahead of us because some of the clients mistook key members of the confederacy of friends and helpers” which statement you knew were false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the said Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb, LL.D by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage him in his profession and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Act.
“COUNT XI: That you Dele Farotimi ‘m’ sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally defamed the person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb in page 80, of the said book where you stated: “But Afe knew that he could get the Supreme Court to do whatever he wanted and to rule however he asked. Pedro knew this too and he being the original Lagos boy, showed Afe a bit of Lagos magic. Afe Babalola and the Eletus might have killed the buffalo but had no way from feeding from the carcass. We have turned the corrupt triumph at the Supreme Court into a Pyrrhic victory and it was at this point that Pedro craftily inserted himself into the plot” which statement you knew were false allegation and likely to injure the reputation of the said Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb, LL.D by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage him in his profession and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Act.”
However, Dele Farotimi pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen count charge.
Police prosecutor, Samson Osun, called for the remand of the suspect in prison custody pending further investigation and its outcome for the maintenance of security in the country.
Counsel to the defendant, Dayo Akeredolu, opposed the remand call and pleaded with the court to admit the defendant to bail on very liberal terms and on self recognisance because the case at hand is bailable and the suspect is a known figure who is not constituting any threat.
He said the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned hearing till December 10.
