Former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has expressed concerns over the reputation of legal icon Aare Afe Babalola in his alleged defamation case against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.
“I am really concerned for Afe’s reputation indeed because the whole world is watching and what the police are doing in the name of Afe Babalola,” Akande said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast programme on Thursday.
The former presidential spokesman said though there is a basis for Afe Babalola to seek redress over the alleged defamation of his person but “what I think it is inelegant is that you will expect somebody like Chief Afe Babalola, with all of his respect and regard, that he would rather pursue this matter as a civil case”.
He said the nonagenarian founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) should not have “instigated the police to harass Mr Farotimi the way we have all seen in videos”.
“I know Babalola is aggrieved and he should pursue his right but you should expect somebody in his class, somebody with his reputation, Afe Babalola is an icon in Nigeria, so, you will expect him to put that in view and rather seek a civil process,” Akande said.
He further said, Afe Babalola is a good man he should go after dele Farotimi by all means, but go through a civil suit, don’t let it appear as if you are using your power and your influence to punish him already even before the matter is heard in court.
Earlier this week, the police in Ekiti State arrested the lawyer/author at his Lagos office and bundled him to Ekiti State for prosecution.
The police arraigned the author on Wednesday for publishing a book, titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged that Afe Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the Supreme Court.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen counts levelled against him.
In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned till December 10, 2024.