Renowned lawyer Afe Babalola challenges Dele Farotimi to substantiate his allegations, urging him to present credible evidence. Discover the unfolding legal exchange.

Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), stated that human rights activist Dele Farotimi will be released from prison if he successfully proves his innocence against the charges brought by an Ekiti magistrate court.

In his book, Farotimi accused Afe Babalola of corrupting the nation’s judiciary system.

Speaking to journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Afe Babalola, through the head of his legal team Owoseni Ajayi, encouraged Nigerians to seek out the truth before supporting Farotimi.

“Is it inappropriate for Aare Afe Babalola to pursue justice regarding these false statements made about him? Should only Mr. Dele Farotimi have access to justice simply because Aare Afe Babalola is a global icon? If Mr. Dele Farotimi can provide evidence supporting his claims in the book, he will be vindicated,” stated Owoseni.

“Until that time, the law permits free speech, though it does not extend to expressions designed to harm another’s good reputation.”

He urged Nigerians to “verify and find out what the truth is first before picking a side,” emphasizing that “all facts are verifiable.”

On Tuesday, news of Farotimi’s arrest captured nationwide attention. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana stated that the activist was apprehended in Lagos State on suspicions of criminal libel.

He stated on Tuesday that he had confirmed Mr. Dele Farotimi was arrested in Lagos today for alleged criminal libel and called for “Farotimi’s unconditional release from illegal custody.”

The arrest occurred just hours after Farotimi alleged that certain unidentified individuals were attempting to silence him. He took to social media to express his concerns about the situation.

“In a Facebook post, he mentioned that at the station, a lawyer handed him a petition accusing him of defamation. He noted that even though he found the petition to be without merit, he still addressed its content.”

On Wednesday, Farotimi was arraigned by the police and pleaded not guilty to all 16 charges brought against him.

In his decision, Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ordered the author’s detention and postponed proceedings until December 10, 2024.

His arrest has sparked discussions both nationally and internationally. The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is among those advocating for the release of the human rights lawyer.

In a statement by its president, Afam Osigwe, the NBA strongly denounces the invasion of Mr. Farotimi’s law firm and condemns both the harassment of its lawyers and staff as well as their illegal seizure of phones. These actions violate constitutional rights to dignity and privacy while also undermining the autonomy of legal professionals.

We urgently call for the immediate release of Dele Farotimi, as his arrest has no legal basis under Lagos State laws. The authorities should promptly initiate an investigation into the intrusion at his law firm, ensure transparency by making their findings public, and hold those responsible accountable.