A group in Ekiti State, Justice for Afe Babalola Legacy (JABL), has disclosed that they would do everything possible to protect the legacies of an elder statesman and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.
The group explained that the human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, maligned the integrity and character of Afe Babalola in his book, demanding that the judiciary must do justice on the matter in the interest of the nonagenarian and his over six decades of legal practice.
Farotimi was last week arraigned before a Magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti over the petition written against him by legal icon Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, over alleged defamation in his book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Judicial System.’
The IGP however, filed a fresh suit marked FHC/AD/CR/104/2024 against Farotimi before the Federal High Court over a 12-count charge bordering on cybercrime
Addressing newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, the publicity secretary of the group, Rotimi Opeyeoluwa, stated that Farotimi must be made to have his day in court to prove the allegations against Babalola.
He said, “Let it be known that Mr. Dele Farotimi admitted on pages 51 and 58 of his book that he corrupted judicial officers by bribing them and having unlawful access to them. Mr. Dele Farotimi also stated on page 41 of his book that he did not study law to follow the rules.
“Flowing from the above scenarios, it is discerning to all men and women of good conscience that Mr Dele Farotimi is in pain over what he is yet to come to terms with. It is a travesty of justice and a parody of democracy that some disgruntled and uninformed members of the public are taking hook, line, and sinker what Mr. Dele Farotimi wrote in his highly defamatory book.
“Our revered father and mentor, Aare Afe Babalola, is a man of great standing both in Nigeria and beyond and has over the years established himself as a great man with a high sense of industry as a lawyer, educationist, and philanthropist who is well known to all and sundry.
“Finally, we shall not stand idly by and watch our icon and his living legacy be rubbished by anybody.”
Also speaking, the head of Babalola’s family and Olotin of Ado-Ekiti, Chief Michael Osaloni, said the family was worried over the turn of events, adding that the legal icon has paid his dues in the nation’s legal and education sectors.
He warned those planning protests in the state to have a change of mind or face the consequences, saying people would resist any attempts to rubbish the name and legacy of the nonagenarian.
Osaloni said, “ Only a man of feeble mind will point accusing fingers at Aare Afe Babalola, and I am highly disappointed in the position of some people.
“ We will not hesitate to meet them with energy; in fact, we are ready for them; let them come; the police will only be doing them a favour if they are prevented.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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