Afe Babalola has agreed to drop his defamation lawsuit against Dele Farotimi, following a visit from Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top Yoruba traditional rulers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oba Adeyeye 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oba Adeyeye, the Ooni of Ife, who was accompanied by a delegation of prominent Yoruba monarchs, including the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, and several others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Babalola who had previously sued Farotimi in an Ado Ekiti Magistrates\u2019 Court following Farotimi\u2019s publication of a book titled \u201cNigeria and its criminal justice system\u201d which allegedly defamed him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oba Adeyeye said during the meeting that \u201cYoruba leaders and the traditional institution had been following the development keenly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The traditional ruler said that he and others resolved to intervene so that Babalola, \u201ccan pardon his son, Farotimi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He commended the legal icon for building his integrity over the years and urged him not to relent following the development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They included former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Hassan Kukah<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legal luminary said he had no choice than to succumb to the latest plea\u2019s by the visiting traditional rulers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed that he had nothing to gain in Farotimi being jailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Babalola assured the traditional rulers that he would direct his lawyers to withdraw the case as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The meeting ended at about midnight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"