Prominent Legal figure and elder statesman, Afe Babalola, has agreed to withdraw his criminal defamation suit against rights activist Dele Farotimi following an appeal from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
The Ooni, accompanied by prominent Yoruba traditional rulers, visited Babalola at his residence in Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), on Sunday night to plead for the case’s withdrawal.
The visit, which occurred around 10:30 pm, included the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, and Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti, among others.
During the meeting, Babalola revealed that he had received numerous calls and letters from eminent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Hassan Kukah, urging him to drop the suit.
Acknowledging the traditional rulers’ intervention, Babalola stated, “I have no choice but to yield to your pleas. I assure you I will instruct my lawyers to withdraw the case.”
He explained that he had nothing to gain from Farotimi’s incarceration, further touching the significance of the appeals made by the visiting dignitaries.
