Peter Obi Visits Babalola, Farotimi, Seeks Alternative Resolution

Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 contest, visited Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, the founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), in her office located on the university grounds Monday night.

According to sources close to the legal luminary, Obi’s visit might not be unrelated to the continuous claimed defamation case launched by Babalola against the Lagos-based human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.

Farotimi faces charges of defamation and cybercrime in an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court and the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti.

According to the sources, a former president close friend of Aare Afe Babalola may have set up the visit in search of other means of settling the defamation lawsuit against well-known Obidient Movement member Farotimi.

Farotimi was last week arranged before a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti over the petition submitted against him by legal icon Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, over claimed defamation in his book titled “Nigeria and Its Criminal Judicial System.”

Allegations in Farotimi’s book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System that claimed Babalola influenced Supreme Court judges led to the defamation prosecution.

However, on Monday, the IGP launched a second lawsuit against Farotimi over a 12-count accusation ranging almost entirely in cybercrime under FHC/AD/CR/104/2024.

Though the Magistrates’ Court had earlier remanded Farotimi and delayed the case to December 10, the Federal High Court granted him bail on Monday, setting the terms at N50 million. 

Even though the Federal High Court granted Farotimi bail of N50 million in like sum as surety, his team was still working on perfecting the bail conditions as of the time of filing the report. 

As part of the visit to the state, it was also reported that Peter Obi held some sessions with Farotimi at the penitentiary center on Monday evening. 

Peter Obi’s Visit to Afe Babalola

Sources in Ado Ekiti revealed that Obi was with Babalola to appeal to the senior lawyer on the topic of Farotimi. 
A source said, “After Obi made his case for Farotimi, Babalola asked whether he had seen Farotimi and that he had come to appeal on his behalf to know whether he has been remorseful. 

“Baba told Obi that everything depended on whether Farotimi was remorseful for his actions or not. “Obi pleaded with Babalola to please consider Farotimi and forgive him.” 

Another person, who corroborated him, stated, “From what I saw, Babalola would be willing to forgive Farotimi, except he decided to choose the path of perdition. 

“I think that as it is, he (Farotimi) has to plead for forgiveness before he can be forgiven. We advised Obi to go and talk to Farotimi, but if he is not ready for an apology and says that he has proof to establish that Baba corrupted Supreme Court judges, let him go and prove that in court. 

“So, consequent upon that, Obi went to the correctional center to meet with Farotimi. But I cannot say yet what transpired there. But I can tell you that Obi went there to meet him.” 

However, a social activist, Moses Paul, provided video and photographs of Obi visiting Afe Babalola and the correctional service in Ado-Ekiti. 

Paul stated, “Today, Mr. Peter Obi traveled from Lagos to Ekiti State, dedicating the entire day to meaningful engagements. He visited Aare Afe Babalola at his office within Afe Babalola University, where they held in-depth discussions on crucial issues, including the situation of activists and lawyer @DeleFarotimi. 

“Following this, Mr. @PeterObi proceeded to the prison facility where @DeleFarotimi is being held. In a private encounter, he expressed solidarity and engaged in an honest exchange aimed at tackling the present challenges.” 
 

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