Yoruba elder statesman Aare Afe Babalola drops defamation cases against lawyer Dele Farotimi after intervention by Yoruba monarchs, led by the Ooni of Ife. The resolution highlights Yoruba traditions of peace and dialogue, with accolades from Afenifere and Peter Obi emphasizing the power of reconciliation and cultural conflict resolution.
Prominent Yoruba elder statesman, Aare Afe Babalola, has withdrawn defamation cases against human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, following intervention by key Yoruba monarchs, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. The legal dispute stemmed from allegations in Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which Babalola claimed defamed his character.
The conflict escalated last year when Farotimi was charged with criminal defamation and cyber-bullying in Ekiti courts, leading to his detention for 20 days before securing bail in December 2024. Despite earlier appeals from figures like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Matthew Kukah, Babalola stood firm until Yoruba traditional rulers intervened.
After a midnight meeting at Afe Babalola University, the elder statesman agreed to drop the charges, emphasizing his respect for the Yoruba institution and its role in preserving peace. “There is nothing I will gain from his imprisonment or damages. My happiness lies in giving and contributing to society,” Babalola stated.
The pan-Yoruba group Afenifere and former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi lauded the decision. Afenifere’s spokesperson, Jare Ajayi, called it a testament to Yoruba values, while Obi described it as proof of the power of dialogue.
