Report has it that the case which emanated from comments made by Farotimi in an interview about his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, particularly concerning Afe Babalola, was formally withdrawn in court.

At the hearing, counsel for the complainant, Samson Osobu, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a notice of discontinuance citing Section 108(1)(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 as the basis for the withdrawal.

He further explained that the decision to withdraw the case followed interventions by well-meaning Nigerians and a request from the nominal complainant, Afe Babalola, to discontinue the matter.

Counsel for the defendant, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, did not oppose the withdrawal.

Consequently, the Presiding Judge, Babs Kuewumi struck out the case.

Read Also: Afe Babalola withdraws suits against Farotimi after Ooni, monarchs’ intervention

While speaking to journalists after the ruling, Olumide-Fusika noted that the case had been concluded in Ado Ekiti but declined to comment on related matters pending in courts across Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the Magistrate Court in Ado Ekiti.

He also stated that he had advised Farotimi against granting press interviews on the matter.

The withdrawal of the suit follows the intervention of prominent traditional rulers, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Afe Babalola had on Monday announced that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the defamation charges against Farotimi.

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Consequently, Farotimi stood trial for alleged criminal defamation before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District, and for alleged cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court.

But speaking at ABUAD after the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and other top traditional rulers at the midnight meeting, Babalola said he had agreed to withdraw the criminal case, saying, he would tell his lawyers to withdraw the case.

Babalola, who restated the importance of the Yoruba traditional institution and its influence, said the monarchs have appealed to him over the criminal charge.

Read Also: Court Grants Dele Farotimi ₦30m Bail

The senior advocate said that he felt so bad that Farotimi accused him of winning all his cases through corruption; hence, he rejected all earlier appeals to him to take the cases out of court.

He listed those who had appealed to him to take the matter out of court including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.

The Ooni, who spoke on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that nobody can tarnish your name and that his name is more than silver and gold as he has stood for his name with the message that nobody can joke with his name.

Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria, and the world, said he and other monarchs were there to discuss the matter with him, adding he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.

Also in attendance were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole; the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

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