Afe Babalola Bows To Pressures, Considers Withdrawal Of Legal Charges Against Dele Farotimi

In a significant development, Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola University, has shown signs of reconsidering his stance on the defamation and cybercrime charges leveled against activist lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

This comes after a high-profile intervention by the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who visited Babalola in Ado Ekiti on Monday to discuss the ongoing legal battles surrounding Farotimi.

Farotimi, who is facing serious charges in both the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court and the Federal High Court, has been accused of defamation in his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, where he claimed that Babalola had influenced Supreme Court judges.

Despite the gravity of the charges, Obi’s intervention has sparked a new line of dialogue between the parties involved.

A reliable source within the circles of Ado Ekiti disclosed that during the visit, Obi passionately appealed to Babalola, urging him to consider the possibility of forgiving Farotimi, emphasizing the importance of resolving the issue amicably. It is understood that Babalola listened attentively but made it clear that his decision would hinge on whether Farotimi expressed remorse for his actions.

In response, Babalola reportedly asked Obi if he had personally spoken to Farotimi to gauge his level of remorse.

The elder statesman was said to have added that any decision to withdraw the legal charges would depend largely on Farotimi’s willingness to seek forgiveness.

“Everything depends on whether Farotimi is remorseful,” Babalola was quoted as saying. “If he is ready to apologize and retract his allegations, we could look at resolving the matter peacefully.”

Obi, visibly moved by the gravity of the situation, is said to have promised to meet with Farotimi and convey Babalola’s sentiments.

The Labour Party candidate then proceeded to visit Farotimi at the correctional center where he is being held, although details of their discussion remain unclear.

Meanwhile, sources close to Babalola have hinted that while the legal case remains in progress, the senior advocate is inclined to offer forgiveness, provided that Farotimi expresses genuine contrition. The path forward, according to these sources, now lies with Farotimi, who is expected to either apologize for his actions or face the full weight of the legal process.