The founder and chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has withdrawn all criminal charges against human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Announcing this decision on Sunday, Babalola acknowledged the efforts of the Ooni and other prominent traditional rulers who appealed for the case to be dropped.
Farotimi had authored a book titled Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, in which he accused Babalola of corrupting the judiciary.
Speaking to journalists, Babalola stated that he had no choice but to honor the directives of the traditional institutions, emphasizing that, in Yoruba culture, the word of an Oba is considered a command.
His words, “I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for.
“I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, I am happy each time I give”.
The Ooni had earlier appealed to Babalola to consider the various forces and personalities that have intervened in the matter.
The monarch hailed Babalola and commended his contribution to the development of the Yoruba race, the Nation and the world at large.
“We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed.
“We Obas can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he had invested so hard to build his name and that can not be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.
“Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherished his name and the world has heard him loud and clear.
“Dele Farotimi is your son, we give birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba after a little spank, we also pardon such children”.
Several lawyers involved in the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Channels Television, confirmed the development.
However, some of the lawyers, whose names were also mentioned in Farotimi’s book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, indicated that they are likely to proceed with their cases in court, as they believe they too were defamed.
The lawyers are planning to meet later today to discuss, coordinate, and release a joint statement on how they intend to move forward.