The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has issued an interim injunction, prohibiting Lagos-based lawyer Dele Farotimi, whether personally or through his representatives, from publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing physical, digital, or soft copies of the book titled “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.”
Justice Peter Kekemeke granted the order following an ex parte application filed by the claimant, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, the managing partner at Afe Babalola’s law firm.
The court also temporarily restrained agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, re-publishers, re-sellers, and other parties, including Dele Farotimi Publishers, Amazon Online Bookstore, Rovingheights Bookstore, Booksellers Bookstore, Jazzhole Lagos Bookstore, Glendora Bookshop, Quintessence Lagos Bookstore, and Patabah Books Limited, from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the book by any means, whether online, electronically, physically, or via social media.
This order is in place pending the hearing and resolution of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction, which was filed on December 6, 2024.
The court also granted an order of interim injunction directing the seizure of all physical copies of the book authored by the Defendant titled: “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System”, wherever they may be found, including at Dele Farotimi Publishers, Rovingheights Bookstore, Booksellers Bookstore, Jazzhole Lagos Bookstore, Glendora Bookshop, Quintessence Lagos Bookstore and Patabah Books Limited worldwide by the Nigerian Police Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp and all other security agencies pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction dated and filed on the 6th day of December 2024.”
The Court further ordered that the relevant security agencies mentioned in the second relief should file an affidavit demonstrating that they have complied with the orders of the Court within 72 hours of their receipt of the order of Court.
In a similar case, an Oyo State High Court has granted an interim order restraining Dele Farotimi or anyone acting on his behalf from further printing the book titled “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.”
Justice Mufutau Adegbola issued the interim order following an ex parte application filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Adebayo Adenipekun, a senior partner at the law firm of Afe Babalola, on December 9th.
After hearing from Chukwudi Maduka Esq., who represented the senior advocate, Justice Adegbola granted the order temporarily and instructed that the opposing party be notified.
The motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction has been adjourned to January 7, 2025.