Amid the growing controversy surrounding the detention of human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi, renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Aare Afe Babalola has publicly addressed the defamation allegations leveled against Farotimi.

The legal action stems from claims made in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, which Babalola asserts contains false and defamatory statements about him and his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co.

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In a petition dated November 19 and submitted to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola accused Farotimi of making “criminally defamatory” statements about him, his law firm, and two senior lawyers at his firm, Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro.

The defamatory remarks are tied to the Supreme Court case Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors v. H.R.H. Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.

Babalola revealed that the allegations came to light when one of his lawyers purchased Farotimi’s book while traveling through Murtala Muhammed Airport.

After reading the book, the lawyer immediately brought its contents to Babalola’s attention.

Other members of his firm reportedly did the same, prompting the senior lawyer to take legal action.

In his petition, Babalola pointed to specific passages in Farotimi’s book that accused him of corruption and unethical conduct. The petition reads:

“I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co., and my lawyers, Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro, by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, published by Dele Farotimi Publishers, in respect of Suit No. SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors v. H.R.H. Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.

“Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers, while traveling through Murtala Muhammed Airport, bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’. He read the book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the book and read it.”

“The defamatory statements are as follows:

• That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his client.

• That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro, and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co. (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had, when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-abnegation.”

Babalola strongly denies the allegations, claiming that they are false and damaging to both his personal reputation and the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary.

Nigerian author and activist Dele Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, has surged to bestseller status on Amazon amid a legal battle with prominent lawyer and businessman, Afe Babalola.

The controversy surrounding the book has captivated public attention, driving both online and offline demand.

The book, which critiques systemic corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary and highlights alleged misconduct by key legal figures, saw modest sales following its release in July 2024.

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However, Farotimi’s arrest on Tuesday, following a petition filed by the 93-year-old Babalola, triggered a wave of public curiosity.

By Thursday evening, it had climbed to the top of Amazon’s bestseller rankings, according to checks by Vanguard. Bookstores across Nigeria also reported a significant uptick in demand.

Biztellers reports that Farotimi was detained in Lagos by armed police officers and transported to Ado Ekiti, about 300 kilometers northeast of the city, where Babalola is based.

The senior lawyer alleged that the book accused him of compromising Nigeria’s judiciary—a claim that has sparked heated debates about freedom of speech and accountability in the legal profession.

On Wednesday, Farotimi was arraigned in an Ekiti court, where the judge ordered his remand pending a bail hearing scheduled for December 10.

Farotimi’s legal team has vowed to contest the charges, framing the case as an attack on intellectual freedom.

The Lead Pastor of Harvesters International Christian Center (HICC), Pastor Bolaji Idowu, has refuted allegations of involvement in a ₦1.5 billion fraud, describing the claims as baseless and unfounded.

Speaking during his “Next Level Prayers” session on Wednesday, Pastor Idowu addressed the accusations, which had gone viral on social media, maintaining his innocence and clarifying his financial dealings.

He said, “Over the last 24 hours, there’s been a lot of news about me on social media. I just want to state some facts clearly.”

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The pastor categorically denied any involvement in fraudulent real estate transactions, asserting that he has no business interests in property dealings.

“I do not have any property in Nigeria apart from the one bequeathed to me by my late parents. I am not in the business of buying or selling properties,” he stated.

He also dismissed claims that he had received billions of naira in his bank accounts, urging anyone with doubts to verify his financial records.

“Someone said I received billions into my account. My account is public; anyone can check if I have ever received such amounts. I did not,” he added.

Despite the controversy, Pastor Idowu expressed gratitude for the support he has received from his followers and well-wishers.

“I want to thank all of you that showed a lot of love. We are victorious,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to his faith and ministry.

The pastor also acknowledged the public nature of the allegations and the scrutiny they have drawn. “As you are reading it, I’m also reading it, like wow,” he remarked, calling the situation a learning experience.