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ADO-EKITI, EKITI STATE, NIGERIA – Aare Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has shared why he initially rejected pleas from former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Matthew Kukah over the defamation case involving human rights activist, Mr. Dele Farotimi.
After appeals from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, alongside other prominent Yoruba monarchs, Afe Babalola announced his decision to withdraw all criminal defamation charges against Farotimi.
The respected legal luminary emphasized that his decision was influenced by the intervention of Oba Ogunwusi and other traditional rulers, whose efforts aimed at reconciliation prompted him to let go of the legal proceedings.
He said: “The Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened. The same goes for Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening. My answer to them has been No, but today my answer is Yes.
“Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money, who Am I? When the colonialists came here in the 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with an advanced system of government with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands.
“I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yet I’m corrupt, I was given an oil bloc; when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much, I rejected it, yet I’m corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, I rejected it, yet I’m corrupt because whatever I am, I don’t want anybody to say I made it through corruption.
“I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege that I have won my cases through corruption, it’s an attempt to defame me. That was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me.
“But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I was in a fix today. There is nothing I’m going to gain from his imprisonment and there’s nothing I want from the so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth; I’m rather concerned about managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say yes.”
It would be recalled that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, alongside prominent Yoruba traditional rulers in Ekiti State, visited Aare Afe Babalola at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), on the evening of Sunday, January 26, 2025.
The delegation appealed to the university’s founder to forgive human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi, and withdraw the ongoing criminal case against him.
According to a statement e-signed by Otunba Moses Olafare, Director of Media & Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, the Ooni arrived at ABUAD at approximately 10:08 p.m. on Sunday. Aare Afe Babalola, accompanied by the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde; the Bursar, Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola; the school’s Public Relations Officer; faculty deans; and Afe Babalola’s legal team, welcomed the Ooni and his entourage.
During the welcome ceremony, Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde commended the Ooni for his consistent love and support for Aare Afe Babalola and ABUAD.
She highlighted the university’s reputation as one of the leading institutions in Africa, underscoring the significance of the Ooni’s visit.
Following a closed-door meeting, the Ooni addressed journalists alongside other Yoruba monarchs, including the Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III; the Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo; the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu; the Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II; and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ilori Faboro, who also serves as Chairman of the Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers.
The Ooni explained that after carefully observing the circumstances surrounding the criminal case against Farotimi, it became necessary to apply the Yoruba tradition of Alternative Dispute Resolution. He described the case as one involving a “father and son” and emphasized the importance of reconciliation in maintaining harmony within the Yoruba community.
“We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son; Dele Farotimi and what we want from him is to withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi today.
“Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elderstateman, you have seen it all, you are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elderstateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country. This we are using to bring down the tempo in what has happened between you and your son Dele Farotimi. We have been very proud of you as a great Yoruba elderstateman. You have done great things for this race and Nigeria such that your name can never be forgotten.
“We’ve all come together as traditional Rulers to discuss with you on this issue and this gentleman Dele Farotimi is your son and you must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him. As a father, you have soft sons and you have tough sons, Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name can not be be messed with”, Oba Ogunwusi posited.
When given the microphone to respond to the request made by the Ooni and the traditional Rulers, Aare Afe Babalola did not hesitate to accept the request saying he grew up as a child to understand such interventions by the traditional rulers.
He declared he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi but also will instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect, because of the honour for the Ooni and the other Obas.
“Today is a very important day for me, I’m a Yoruba man and I’m very proud to be one. Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened, same with Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening. My answer to them has been “NO” but today my answer is “YES”
“Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money, who Am I? When the colonialists came here in 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with advanced systems of government with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands.
“In the middle ages, the Greeks had a saying, “the meadow that grow on the bank of a river which obeys the direction of the flood remains strong forever but the meadow that grow that disobey the direction of the flood were broken asunder”.
Aare Babalola concluded his response with a an Adage in Yoruba saying ” Eni ti o ba nI nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara” meaning “those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism”
He said he had listened to the Ooni’s advice and he certainly didn’t want to be a meadow by the riverside which disobeys the flood.
“I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yes I’m corrupt, I was given an oil block, when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much, I rejected it, yes I’m corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, I rejected it, yes I’m corrupt because whatever I am, I don’t want anybody to say I made it through corruption.
“Look at my books, I’m Chairman, Transparency International based in Germany, I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege me that I have won my cases through corruption, it’s an attempt to defame me that was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me.
“But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I’m in a fix today. “Nkan de o”. There is nothing I’m going to gain from his (Dele) imprisonment and there’s nothing I want from the so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth; I’m rather concerned on managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say “YES”.
Ooni departed venue of the meeting at about half past midnight for his Ojaja Park in Akure from where he made his departure to Abuja on Monday, January 27, 2025.
