Following a visit to him by a delegation led by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday night, legal luminary Afe a visit to him by a delegation led by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Sunday night, legal luminary Afe Babalola has said he is ready to withdraw his criminal defamation suit against Lagos lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
Ooni visited the elder statesman at his residence at Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) to plead with him to withdraw the suit against Dele Farotimi.
The Ooni, who arrived at ABUAD at about 10.30 pm, was accompanied by other top Yoruba traditional rulers, including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti and Olojudo of Ido- Ekiti among others.
Babalola had sued Farotimi in an Ado Ekiti Magistrates’ Court following Farotimi’s publication of a book which allegedly defamed him.
In his response, Babalola said he had received several letters as well as calls on the issue from eminent Nigerians asking him to withdraw the suit.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said he had no choice than to succumb to the latest pleas by the visiting traditional rulers.
He stressed that he had nothing to gain in Farotimi being jailed.
Babalola assured the traditional rulers that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case.
His words, “I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for.
“I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, I am happy each time I give”.
The Ooni had earlier appealed to Babalola to consider the various forces and personalities that have intervened in the matter.
He said Yoruba leaders and the traditional institution had been following the development keenly.
He commended the legal icon for building his integrity over the years and urged him not to relent following the development.
The traditional ruler said that he and others resolved to intervene so that Babalola, ” can pardon his son, Farotimi.
“We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed.
“We Obas can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he had invested so hard to build his name and that can not be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.
“Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherished his name and the world has heard him loud and clear.
“Dele Farotimi is your son, we give birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba after a little spank, we also pardon such children”.
The meeting ended at about midnight
