Nigerian lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi has clarified that his book ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ is not meant to destroy Aare Afe Babalola.
Farotimi, while speaking during the Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, stated that his book is a well-researched work documenting his experiences and observations about the Nigerian judicial system.
His statement comes on the heels of Babalola announcing his withdrawal of the case against Farotimi due to the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and others.
However, Farotimi revealed that he still faces four separate suits in different states filed by members of the Aare Afe Babalola law office.
He emphasized that his published work is not a personal battle or an attack on individuals but a critique of the systemic corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary.
“Chief Afe Babalola is more than old enough to be my father. I did not set out to destroy the man or to tarnish his image. Nothing personal. I was writing about the institution of the judiciary.
“Multiple names were mentioned in the book, and offices were mentioned. I did not set out to libel anybody.
“I simply told the truth of what I saw. All I did was write a book. Maybe we have become too accustomed to lies and allergic to truth, to the point where telling the truth has become a sin.
“We have built a system that rewards deception and punishes truth. I am being sued not because I have lied, but because I have dared to speak the truth.
“Ninety per cent of the persons criticizing me for whatever they believe my tactics to have been in writing the book have not read the book.
“If Nigerians would stop being so philistinic and illiterate, if they would dare to read, there would be no arguments as to the proof of what I have written,” Farotimi stated.