A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Afe Babalola has dropped criminal charges against the Lagos-based lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
The founder of Afe Babalola University disclosed this at a pess conference attended by some prominent traditional rulers led by the Ooni of ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Sunday evening in Ado-Ekiti .
Farotimi is facing multiple charges over his Book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” where he alleged that the elder statesman compromised the judiciary.
Babalola said he decided to drop the criminal defamation charges against the Lagos based human rights activist following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and other prominent traditional rulers in the country.
According to him, he had ignored interventions from different personalities within and outside the country, but had to yield to the appeals of the traditional institution, adding that the statement of an Oba in Yoruba traditional from time immemorial is a command.
“I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominee twice,” wondering why any one would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for.
Addressing journalists, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Oguwusi appealed to Babalola to consider the various forces and personalities that have intervened in the matter.
He hailed Babalola’s contributions to the development of the Yoruba people, 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 cannot 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”.