Activist and attorney Dele Farotimi disclosed on Sunday that he is currently facing four separate civil lawsuits filed by members of the Aare Afe Babalola law office in various states. This announcement was made during the Toyin Falola Interviews.
Farotimi's statement follows the January 27 decision by Aare Afe Babalola, the Founder of Afe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti, to withdraw criminal cases previously instituted against him. This decision came after Babalola had petitioned the police commissioner in Ekiti State, alleging defamation by Farotimi in his book titled 'Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.' As a result of this allegation, Farotimi was subsequently arrested and arraigned before two courts in Ekiti.
Farotimi faced charges of alleged criminal defamation at a Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti and accusations of cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court. Although Babalola's withdrawal of the complaints led to the police discontinuing criminal charges against Farotimi, he emphasized during the discussion that he continues to confront four civil suits pertaining to his case.
"My inability to address certain dimensions of this issue stems from the fact that, although the criminal proceedings have been discontinued, I remain aware of the four civil suits filed by members of the same law office against my person," he stated.
Farotimi asserted that his book was not a product of frivolous commentary but a meticulously researched publication detailing his observations and experiences regarding the Nigerian judicial system. “I did not compose this work in a casual setting; it was not borne out of gossip or frivolity. It constitutes a serious scholarly work,” he remarked. “Let us engage with the substance of my claims. Anyone is welcome to read the book and challenge me on any inaccuracies.”
Addressing the notion that the controversy surrounding his book represents a personal grievance, Farotimi emphasized that the true focus is not on his reputation but rather on the broader issues within the Nigerian legal system. “This is not a personal trial of Dele Farotimi. It is crucial to understand that this is a trial concerning the legal system we have collectively constructed,” he asserted.
He reiterated that his work, 'Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,' is not intended as an indictment of specific individuals, including Chief Afe Babalola, but is intended as a critique of systemic corruption within the judiciary. Farotimi conveyed that his writing was motivated by a pursuit of justice rather than personal animus.
“Chief Afe Babalola is considerably senior to me,” Farotimi noted. “My intention was never to tarnish his reputation or to destroy his character. My focus has always been on the integrity of the judicial institution.”
Farotimi maintained that his criticisms target institutional deficiencies rather than individuals. “The book mentions multiple names and positions; however, I did not aim to libel anyone. I merely presented the truth based on my observations,” he clarified. “It appears that as a society, we have become so desensitized to dishonesty that expressing the truth has been misconstrued as a transgression.”
He contended that for Nigeria to achieve meaningful reform, its citizens must confront uncomfortable truths. “We have established a system that rewards deception while penalizing truth-telling. I am being sued not for fabricating lies but for daring to speak the truth.”
Furthermore, Farotimi criticized those who have dismissed his book without engaging with its content, characterizing such actions as indicative of intellectual laziness. “A significant proportion of my critics have not taken the time to read the book,” he claimed. “Were Nigerians to cultivate a habit of thoughtful literary engagement, there would be fewer contentions regarding the validity of my assertions.”