Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), has agreed to drop charges against Mr Dele Farotimi, the human rights activist currently facing criminal defamation charges instituted by the legal icon.
This decision followed an appeal by foremost Yoruba monarchs, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other prominent Ekiti monarchs, who pleaded with the legal icon to drop the charges during a meeting held at the ABUAD campus.
An Ekiti Magistrate Court had recently granted Dele Farotimi ₦30 million bail on the criminal defamation case brought before the court by Babalola.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday night the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said Yoruba leaders and stakeholders had been following the case keenly and decided to appeal to Aare Babalola to pardon his son, Farotimi.
He commended Babalola for building his integrity over the years, adding that no one could tarnish his name.
“Your name is more than silver and gold. That is what you have lived for. The whole world has seen that you don’t joke about your name.
“You have labored to build the name, and no one can rubbish it. Dele Farotimi is your son. You have passed your message that what is in the name is silver and gold,” the traditional ruler said.
In response to the appeal by the monarchs, Babalola said he had received several letters and calls on the issue, particularly from notable Nigerians, including former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Kukah, but he had initially rejected their appeals.
Babalola added that he had nothing to gain from the imprisonment of Farotimi, saying that with the Ooni and other monarchs’ intervention, he had no option but to accede to their request.
He said he would instruct his lawyers to discontinue the case.
Other prominent traditional rulers at the meeting were the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe; the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oloye Ekiti; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti; and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, among others.
