By Idowu Ariwodola
LEGAL icon and elder statesman, Afe Babalola, says he is ready to withdraw his criminal defamation suit against rights activist, Dele Farotimi.
Babalola had sued Farotimi in an Ado Ekiti Magistrates’ Court following Farotimi’s publication of a book which allegedly defamed him.
Babalola’s decision to withdraw his suit followed the visit to him by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday night.
The visit by the Ooni to the elder statesman’s residence at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), was to plead with him to withdraw the suit.
The Ooni, who arrived at ABUAD at about 10.30 pm, was accompanied by other top Yoruba traditional rulers.
Traditional rulers, who came in company with the Ooni, included the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, among others.
Speaking at the meeting, Babalola said he had received several letters as well as calls on the issue from eminent Nigerians asking him to withdraw the suit.
They included former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Hassan Kukah.
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The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said he had no choice than to succumb to the latest pleas by the visiting traditional rulers.
He stressed that he had nothing to gain in Farotimi being jailed.
Babalola assured the traditional rulers that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.
Earlier, the Ooni had said Yoruba leaders and the traditional institution had been following the development keenly.
The traditional ruler said that he and others resolved to intervene so that Babalola, “can pardon his son, Farotimi.”
He commended the legal icon for building his integrity over the years and urged him not to relent following the development.
The meeting ended at about midnight
It could be recalled that Babalola recently dragged Farotimi before an Ekiti Magistrates’ court, claiming criminal defamation in the latter’s controversial book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
The court granted Farotimi N30 million bail. (NAN)
