Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of Afe Babalola has agreed to withdraw the criminal defamation and cyberbullying cases he instituted against activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi. This decision comes after a midnight intervention by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, alongside other prominent Yoruba monarchs.

Babalola, who had accused Farotimi of defaming him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ had initially filed charges following the publication. Farotimi was arrested, arraigned, and faced trial before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court and the Ado Ekiti Division of the Federal High Court.

However, following appeals from Yoruba traditional leaders, including the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare others, Babalola agreed to end the legal proceedings.

In his address, Babalola expressed his deep disappointment over the accusations made against him, particularly those claiming he won cases through corruption. Despite previous refusals to drop the case, Babalola stated that the intervention of the traditional rulers had led him to reconsider his stance.

“I feel so bad that Farotimi accused me of winning all my cases through corruption,” Babalola said. “There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather how to spend what I have for the benefit of others.”

The Ooni, who spoke on behalf of the monarchs, assured Babalola that his name, which holds great esteem among the Yoruba people and beyond, would not be tarnished by the claims. He emphasized the unity and strength of the Yoruba race, using traditional ethos to appeal to Babalola to show leniency.

“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone,” Ooni Ogunwusi remarked.

Babalola expressed his appreciation for the traditional rulers’ intervention and confirmed that he would instruct his lawyers to withdraw the suit.