Detained human rights lawyer and activist, Mr. Dele Farotimi has clarified that he did not authorize anyone to approach elder statesman Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, to seek leniency in the ongoing defamation case against him.
This follows after some associates of Farotimi called for his release, alleging a violation of his rights.
Farotimi is on trial in Ekiti State following a defamation petition filed by elder statesman Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, over his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
Recently, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, visited Afe Babalola, with reports suggesting the visit was to advocate for Farotimi.
However, speaking on Sunday during the Inside Sources program with Laolu Akande, Farotimi’s lawyer, Tope Temokun, said his client denied asking Obi to intervene or pursue an out-of-court settlement.
Temokun said: “I visited Mr Dele Farotimi in a correctional service in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday afternoon.
“The events of the recent days; the visit of Mr Peter Obi, the (2023) presidential candidate of the Labour Party, to Aare Afe Babalola; his visit to Mr Dele Farotimi, created some lack of clarity; people are not so clear about some things; people are not clear about what is going on. It is based on this that I had to visit him yesterday, and we sat together and had a good discussion.
“After Peter Obi left Ekiti, the news that filtered through the town to the issue of the conditions for release, the issue of apology, the issue of whether Mr Dele Farotimi can do this or that to come out."
“I told him (Farotimi): the reason I am here is to confirm from you, ‘What do you think should be done?’ The visit of Mr Peter Obi to you in person and the subsequent visit to Aare Afe Babalola: What do you know about it? What is your message to Aare Afe Babalola? What is your message to the people outside? What is also your message to me as part of your legal team?
“He (Farotimi) said if anybody who is familiar with his antecedents, with his principles, with his philosophy over time should join anybody to believe that in a matter where he had written a book that he had published and that had been in circulation, that if anybody, or somebody should join others to believe that he has sent anybody to beg anybody, he said he will be so disappointed in that person.
“He told me categorically that even you, Tope, if you join anybody to believe that I could beg anybody or that I have sent anybody to beg anybody, I will be so disappointed in you.
