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Thepledge Big Story: Has Sanwo-Olu Failed To Light Up Lagos?

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By Augustine Akhilomen

Four Years and eight months into his administration as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu seems less concerned about the need to revive functioning street lights across some eye-brow areas and corners of the state.

Many Lagosians have indeed become victims to the daredevils of the night due to failed street lights that could have illuminated the environment and ensured their safety.


No doubt, streetlights are critical utilities in contemporary cities because of the immense benefits they provide. For instance, apart from promoting security in urban areas, they also enhance safety for drivers, riders, and pedestrians, in addition to increasing the quality of life by artificially “extending the hours.”


Unfortunately however, streetlights are increasingly becoming ornamental in many parts of the state, as they are either non-functional, even on major roads or are working in fits and starts. Expectedly, this trend of epileptic services has heightened incidences of insecurity across the state.

Just over two years ago, major roads and streets that enjoyed some level of illumination have again been thrown into total or partial darkness, due to poor maintenance, lack of attention or a combination of the two. In some cases, vandalisation of street light installations have led to permanent darkness in parts of the state.

In areas visited by Thepledge in Gbagada – Oshodi – Apapa expressway, Lekki – Epe expressway, Igando – LASU road, Maryland – Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Ajah, Abule Egba, Iyana Ipaja, Ejigbo, Iju road, Oba Akran, Obafemi Awolowo, Toyin Street, Bode Thomas, Lawanson Road, among other areas, are all without functional street lights despite having it erected.

The situation in locations like Ikeja GRA, Alausa, Victoria Island, Oniru, Lekki, Ikoyi, and a few others, is relatively better. But residents believe the government must give the entire populace a sense of belonging to avoid being labeled as an administration that focuses on the elite, leaving the masses to suffer.

Residents are groaning over the darkness that pervades several areas amid the increasing insecurity. It is now so bad that tales of agonizing experiences are shared at homes, offices, places of worship, beer parlours, and on social media every day.

Simeon, a Surulere resident said he had, at different times, heard people complain how unsafe they feel in Lagos at dark hours.

“The government should fix the problem urgently. When I’m returning from work, the only place I see lights on is Adeniran Ogunsanya.

“But the ones on Itire road, Ogunlana drive, Akobi crescent, as well as Adelabu, Akerele, Adekunle Kuye streets and others are mostly off. It’s not good”.

Some light stands that were erected along Isolo Road (from Iyana Isolo up to Ojuwoye Market in Mushin) are not working efficiently. A resident in the area, Adekunle Areo wondered the rationale behind decorating streets with lamp stands that function once in a long while.

He said: “This Isolo Road project was started by Governor Fashola many years ago. Of course, he left office without completing the project. His predecessor Akinwunmi Ambode completed the project. But the streetlights are not working as they should. Most times, it is only the stretch from the police station under the Iyana Isolo Bridge, up to Oye Roundabout that comes on.

“The rest are just there. So it is important that we let the governor know that these streetlights are not working as they should so that he will do something about the situation.”

Kolade, a resident in Gbagada said that the erected street lights within the area only worked for some few months before returning the area back to darkness.


“It is so sad that the Lagos State Government has failed to prioritize certain things that should be considered very important, especially when it concerns the safety of the people.

“The street lights were erected some months back, it worked for some period of time and then the whole place got back to its usual darkness. This is not good at all. There should be an element of maintenance in order to keep these street lights functioning.”

Not many will argue that in most cases, the atrocities being perpetrated by robbers and kidnappers are done in the dark. Why then is the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration not doing enough to rectify this identified root cause?

The attitude of the powers that be in giving credence to the allegations in some quarters that “untouchables” got contracts for maintenance of street lights and supply of diesel used for alternative electricity to power the poles remain worrisome to residents.

In August 2019, when the cabinet was sworn in, Sanwo-Olu told his commissioners and special advisers to “be prepared to pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, and support or oppose whomever, in order to accomplish our grand ambition of building one of the great cities of the 21st century.”

The governor described Lagos as “a beacon of social, commercial and political excellence for the rest of our dear nation”. But residents say the governor should be reminded that Lagos is becoming a laughingstock due to the uncertainty from dusk to dawn.

People step out in the morning and are scared to be outside from late evening due to the activities of criminals. Phones get stolen, bags are snatched, cars are broken into, ‘one chance’ operators now bolder, yet lights are off!

Lamented Festus Ajayi, a resident of Badore: “When my phone and laptop were snatched some weeks ago under the Ajah bridge around 10p.m, the place was dark”. Hundreds of other victims have lost valuables in similar circumstances since thieves are bolder in and around pitch-black environments.

Should street lights be a topical issue in a state making huge money monthly and pride itself as a State of Excellence? The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) established that Lagos recorded N204.51billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the first half of 2020.

Within the same period, according to the NBS, the IGR for 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was N612.87 billion. Therefore, Lagos generated one-third of the total interior revenue realized in Nigeria!

Sanwo-Olu confirmed the blueprint for a new Lagos and the Development Plan (2012 to 2025) is still relevant “as strategic reference materials for a systematic implementation of medium and long-term policies”. If the plan of action did not make provision for adequate and effective illumination of roads and streets, now is the time to include.

The current leadership mapped out an agenda summarized in the acronym T.H.E.M.E.S. – Traffic Management and Transportation; Health and Environment; Education and Technology; Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy; Entertainment and Tourism; Security and Governance.

Lagosians have therefore expressed reservations and told the government that the subject matter is important to the realization and success of the “six pillars”; and that comparisons are being made with previous administrations in terms of infrastructure development.

Thousands of Nigerians and foreigners visit Lagos every week. If the street lights are not working, will local and international investors be convinced that Lagos is a place to commit funds?

Critics are of the view that citizens are struggling to cope with the current economic, personal and national challenges in the country, hence, their lives are properties that must be protected and secured. A major step in this direction, they opined, is for Governor Sanwo-Olu and his administration to up Lagos now. “The people are not only taking notes, the books of history have a place for everyone”, Ajayi lamented.

Ajayi continues: “I don’t think it should be a big deal for the governor to do this since the immediate past governor lit up the state to the delight of the citizens. Sanwo-Olu should go and study how former governor Ambode did it and save us the stress of going back home everyday in darkness”.

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PDP BoT To Meet Wike, Says Tinubu’s Reforms Pushing Nigerians Into Poverty

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The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has resolved to put an end to the party’s crisis by scheduling a meeting with former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike in January.

During an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday, PDP BoT Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara emphasized the importance of internal organization within the PDP, stating that the party’s strength lies in collective determination rather than individual ambitions.

He said, “We cannot afford to let personal ambitions or differences overshadow our shared vision for a better Nigeria.”


“Let us prioritize dialogue, collaboration, and a sense of shared responsibility as we navigate these trying times.

“To this end, the BoT will begin again to search for peace in the new year, starting with former Governor Nyesom Wike, who the BoT had promised to visit again to seek lasting peace.”

Wabara also criticized the Umar Damagum-led National Working Committee for its repeated postponements of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

He expressed concern that the ongoing delays in convening the NEC meeting are eroding the trust and confidence of PDP members.

“This delay not only undermines the trust and confidence of our members.”

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FULL TEXT: How Dele Farotimi Allegedly Defamed Afe Babalola

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Afe Babalola, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has accused Dele Farotimi of defamation over a Supreme Court judgment on a land dispute.

According to Babalola, Farotimi made several defamatory statements against him, his law firm, Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers), and his lawyers, Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro Esq.

The alleged defamatory statements were made in Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”.

Babalola claims that Farotimi accused him of corrupting the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in favour of his client. Farotimi also allegedly stated that Babalola and his lawyers compromised the Supreme Court and got the court to “swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-abnegation”.

Babalola’s petition to the Ekiti police commissioner, Adeniran Akinwale, dated November 19, details the alleged defamatory statements made by Farotimi. The petition led to Farotimi’s arrest and subsequent arraignment on a 16-count charge. He was remanded in prison custody by a magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti.

The land dispute in question involves a 254-hectare land in Lagos, which was sold to the Eletu family in 1977. The Ojomu family, who originally owned the land, contested the acquisition by the Lagos State Government, and the Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the Eletu family.Family vacation packages

Farotimi’s book allegedly accuses Babalola and his lawyers of manipulating the Supreme Court to get a favorable judgment. The book also claims that Babalola and his lawyers engaged in corrupt practices to get the judgment enforced.

See full text below;

The Commissioner of Police,

Ado-Ekiti,


Ekiti State.

Dear Sir,

CRIMINAL DEFAMATION OF AARE AFE BABALOLA, AFE BABALOLA & CO AND HER LAWYERS BY DELE FAROTIMI

I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.


SUIT NO: SC/146/2005: MAJOR MURITALA GBADAMOSI ELETU & ORS V. H.R.H OBA TIJANI AKINLOYE & ORS (2013) 15 NWLR PART 1378

We were solicitors to the Gbadamosi Eletu family in the case of Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.Family vacation packages


The Appellants lost the case at the High Court and the Court of Appeal before briefing my law firm to represent them at the Supreme Court.

The Appellant in this suit were Defendants at the High Court. The subject matter of the suit was 254 hectares of land at Osapa Eti-Osa Local Government Lagos sold to the late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu in 1977 by the Ojomu family. The said parcel of land was later acquired by Lagos State Government after it was sold to the Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Ojomu family.


The Ojomu family contested the acquisition against Lagos State Government in Suit No: ID/1883/89 wherein the court set aside the acquisition by the Lagos State Government. The Ojomu family then instituted the suit at the High Court of Lagos State claiming that title to the land had reverted to the Ojomu family despite the earlier sale of the land to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu.

We represented the Eletu family and Judgement was delivered by the Supreme Court on 13/7/2013 in favour of the Eletu family wherein the Supreme Court held that: “Where a party has fully divested himself of all interest in land, no right vests in him to deal with the same property by way of further alienation anymore. He is caught by the maxim, nemo dat quod non habet; that is, he cannot give that which he no longer has. In the instant case, it was unfortunate that the respondents claimed title to the whole of their family land compulsorily acquired by the Lagos State Government including the portion earlier sold to the father of the appellants and in which they were in effective possession. The claim so made without disclosing the truth and excluding the said portion so sold was clearly made in bad faith and smacked of insincerity. It was very unconscionable and consequently against the principles of equity and good conscience”.Family vacation packages


The Supreme Court also held that: “A court of law should not allow itself to be used as an engine for the perpetration of fraud, in whatever guise”.

A copy of the judgment is hereby attached as annexure 1.

VARIATION OF JUDGEMENT

Honourable Justice Kumai Bayang AKA’ AHS JSC wrote the lead judgement. His Lordship erroneously limited the land of the Appellants to 10 hectares (24.17 acres) in respect to Suit no: M/779/93 whose subject matter was part of the 254 hectares owned by the Eletu family.

We immediately filed a motion for variation of the judgement of the Supreme Court pursuant to Order 8 Rule 16 of the Rules of Court. The said motion was heard and ruling delivered on 18/3/2014 granting statutory right of occupancy to the Appellants in respect to the entire 254 hectares sold to late Gbadamosi Bamidele Eletu by the Respondents.


A copy of the ruling is hereby attached as annexure 2.

ENFORCEMENT

Upon the delivery of the Judgement, our client surreptitiously employed the services of S.B Joseph & Co to enforce the judgement before we applied for variation of the judgement with the intention of not paying our professional fees.

The judgement was however varied on 18/3/2014 as earlier stated.

NEW SUIT BY ESTATES/PERSONS AFFECTED BY THE JUDGEMENT

Several residential estates were affected by the judgement of the Supreme Court among which were Pinnock Estate, Beach Resort, NICON Estate, Friends’ Colony Estate and Victory Park Estate etc. Dele Farotimi was lawyer to one of the Estates.

The affected estates and individuals immediately filed fresh suits against the Eletu family with the purpose of frustrating the judgement of the Supreme Court.

The Eletu family were lured by the affected estates to settle some of the suits behind our law firm despite being counsel on record by filing terms of settlement with the aim of denying us our professional fees. This was admitted by Dele Farotimi in page 73 of his book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’.

INTERVENTION BY LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

The Lagos State Government issued a publication indicating their awareness of the Supreme Court judgement and the need for the State to intervene in order to maintain public peace and order. The Lagos State Government invited us for several meetings with respect to compromising the judgement of the Supreme Court.

The said judgement was eventually compromised and the Eletu family were compensated by the Lagos State Government so as to avoid a massive dislocation of persons and communities directly affected by the Judgement.

DEFAMATION BY DELE FAROTIMI

Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers while travelling through Murtala Muhammed Airport bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers. He read the said book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the said book and read same.

We received several calls from professional colleagues, friends and family members who watched a program on Channel’s TV wherein Dele Farotimi was interviewed with respect to the said book where he made several defamatory statements against myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co (Emmanuel Chambers), Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro Esq.

We also received several calls from persons who saw excerpts of the book and interview on several social media platforms.

The said defamatory statements are detailed below:

“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client” See page IX.

“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation”. See page X

“That Afe Babalola libeled me and the fact of the libel became known to me in a suit against Lawal Pedro SAN”. See page X.

“That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and he leveraged his influence in the Judiciary to deny me justice”. See page X.

“That I have always been familiar with the fact of our perversion as a People and I have few illusions about equity and justice reigning in Nigeria but I had always assumed that there were lines that should never be crossed. I have however been slapped awake by the brazenness of the judicial brigandage unleashed on hapless citizens, corporate, and individuals by the Nigerian Supreme Court, acting under the direction of Aare Afe Babalola. At least five Justices of the Apex Court have been identified as guilty of odious corruption and or gross incompetence. Either is sufficient to have them removed from their office and this is my petition to the Nigerian people and most definitely to the NJC”. See pages 10 to 11.

“The first we knew of the magic been put together by Afe and his elves must have been around the middle of July”. See page 49.

“While all this was going on, we had a meeting in the law office of Afe Babalola in Magodo, where Olu Daramola SAN made himself unavailable, and had us meet with Olu Faro, a younger counsel……..but Olu Faro Esq was remarkably insolent and assured that we were made aware of just how powerful the law office he worked for believed itself to be and how much above the law and the practice of law they believed themselves to be”. See page 52.

“The judgement of the court was unanimous in giving judgement to the Eletus………But Justice Rhodes-Vivour laid a foundation for the fraud that was to come. He spoke of an unextinguished equitable interest in 254 hectares”. See page 52 to 53.

“We quickly realized that the law office of Afe Babalola & Co, Emmanuel Chambers had outsourced the judgement execution to another law office, the firm of S.B Joseph & Co the firm had fraudulently and deliberately concealed the judgement of AKA’AHS and had underlined the words of Justice Rhodes Vivour to deceive and perhaps mislead Atilade or as is more likely, Atilade was always a part of the original fraud”. See page 56.

“But even as Atilade J. played the contrition game, she was already part of the game plan being staged together by the grandmaster of judicial corruption in Nigeria, Afe Babalola. I have come to the conclusion that the required form of the application and her ruling were all part of the insidious plans of Afe Babalola, his band of crooked lawyers and coterie of crooked/incompetent justices of the Supreme Court”. See page 59.

“The battle to quash the warrant opened my eyes to the extent of the rot in the court system and I came to the knowledge of the sickening realities of the systemic putrefaction. The Supreme Court’s Judgement was doctored by the confederation of lawyers in Afe Babalola’s chambers and the law offices of S.B Joseph & Co and the end desired by the confederacy was sought with the active connivance of the head judge of the Lagos Division, Atilade J.”. See page 60.

“As the mountain of evidence in proof of the Eletus’ fraud began to pile up and in view of the order that Atilade had granted quashing the fraudulent warrant that she had issued and as Afe came to realize how useless the original judgement had become, Afe went back to the accomplices at the Supreme Court and this is the only logical explanation for the shameless and brazen review of the fraudulent judgement by the second seating of the court where the justices destroyed whatever doubt one might have harbored of either corruption and/ or incompetence”. See page 64.

“It was around this time we began to hear rumors of a return to the Supreme Court by Afe Babalola and his magical elves and the rumors became real when I got a call from Tokunbo Williams SAN, who informed me of the receipt of a motion on notice before the Supreme Court, seeking to correct an error in the judgement reproduced below”. See page 64.

“But apparently, we had underestimated the extent of the putrefaction of the Supreme Court and the extent of Chief Afe Babalola’s corrupt reaches into the innards of the Supreme Court”. See page 64.

“The quashed warrant of execution became the basis of Afe Babalola latest excursion to the Supreme Court and the error of my acceptance of the Corrupt offer of an exparte application to quash the warrant for “Documentary Irregularity” became obvious to me. I knew before the motion was heard, that the court was working to the conclusion desired by Aare Afe Babalola”. See page 67.


“The Lagos crowd had been snookered into a corner by the exertions of my chambers and we had demolished the original fraud that was hatched before Afe secured the first of the two judgements………..The Supreme Court cannot hide behind the incompetence of counsel as it has a duty to examine its own appalling intellectual indolence, corruption or incompetence”. See page 70.

“But the court as though enthralled by whatever Afe the Circus Master had Promised the Justices, acted with utmost carelessness about the integrity of the court, the interest of the citizens and the State that they had been sworn to protect. The conspiracy was always a step ahead of us because some of the clients mistook key members of the confederacy of friends and helpers”. See pages 70 to 71.

“The Attorney General had been dragged into the matter. The brutal attempt at enforcement of the original judgement against organized estates and corporate establishments had served to galvanize extremely critical and sensitive mass of the affected peoples and this was when Afe Babalola lost his influence on the Eletus and the Lagos Mafia whose original brief to procure enforcement of the judgement became the dominant force in the conspiracy muscling out the Afe gang. With Afe Babalola rendered impotent, Lawal Pedro muscled in on the queue”. See page 71.

“…… she knows more about the case that culminated in the Supreme Court Judgement and she also knew everything that I had known about the Eletus fraud and Afe Babalola’s shenanigans”. See page 76.

“But Afe knew that he could get the Supreme Court to do whatever he wanted and to rule however he asked. Pedro knew this too and he being the original Lagos boy, showed Afe a bit of Lagos magic. Afe Babalola and the Eletus might have killed the buffalo but had no way from feeding from the carcass. We have turned the corrupt triumph at the Supreme Court into a pyrrhic victory and it was at this point that Pedro craftily inserted himself into the plot”. See page 80.

“If Afe Babalola might be likened to the lion, Lawal Pedro and the Lagos gang are the originally Africa wild hyenas. They literally chased Afe Babalola off his skill. They repackaged the conspiracy, cut the losses and went for the lower hanging fruits”. See page 80.

“This was enough until “eedi” (karma) caught up with Afe Babalola; he dragged Lawal Pedro before the Lagos High Court and the Eletus before ICPC”. See page 81.

“Sometimes in 2016, I started hearing rumblings of some serious fight between Chief Afe Babalola and Lawal Pedro. I was told that Chief Afe Babalola had written a petition to the LPDC, alleging that Lawal Pedro had railroaded his client Gbadamosi Eletu, into an agreement that circumvents his own legal agreement with the Eletus. About same time, I also heard that the ICPC had been pressed into action against the Eletus, Lawal Pedro and S.B Joseph, which seemed quite incongruous, given the fact that the Eletus were not public officers this event stirred an interest in me. I got my popcorn at the ready and waited to be entertained by the squabbling thieves”. See page 81.

“When Amina Augie JSC railed against Chief Afe Babalola’s professional conduct, or misconduct in the Bayelsa case, she did so either as an ostrich or out of ignorance. Afe has been corrupting the Supreme Court from ages past and had led it to commit the most egregious acts of evil and wanting injustice. Afe knows what her ladyship does not know or pretend not to know: that justice does not live in the Nigerian court or you can get the court to do whatever you want, as long as you know who to speak with and who to pay”. See page 83.

“Afe’s letter to Tunde Phillips, then C.J of Lagos State showed how frustrated he had become about the inability to execute the fraudulent judgement. In spite of the fact that he asked the Supreme Court to do what it had never done before……. the Eletus had formed a new confederacy and had neither room or use for Afe Babalola, who had overestimated his own importance to the plot and failed to discern that he had defectively become unnecessary to the new plotters”. See page 84

“Afe is so enmeshed in his corruption that he has lost all sense of propriety and or fairness”. See page 84.

“I have absolutely no interest in taking Afe Babalola’s corrupt money but I was not going to allow a corrupt, amoral man, devoid of any integrity, to define me for posterity when none of us will be around to dispute the hagiographic account of the event”. See page 84

“Afe Babalola was imperial by the suit I filed in court it was designed to blow open the tawdry details of his dirty deals with the Supreme Court…….it was a thing to be having a quarrel among thieves, each knew how far they might push their claim but it is quite another thing to get into “roforofo” fight with a man seemingly incapable of walking way from a fight”. See page 85

“The perils that were been faced by all key members of the twin camps of conspirators………I must close with a caveat; I am not privy to what happened in the conclaves of crooks….” See page 85

“But there was a second incentive. This was the promise to get rid of the nuisance that my libel suit against Afe represented. I knew when I knew when I was filing the suit, that Afe was not in a position to ever defend the suit. He has no defense and he never anticipated that I will ever become aware of his libel and if he did, he wasn’t concerned about what a mere mortal like me could do to a god like him. Afe was offered assurances that he need not worry about the case. The conspirators had it in hand and would extinguish the fire.” See page 88.

“I sued Afe Babalola because I was always going to blow his dirty, tawdry secrets. I did not know how long any of us had to live and I did not want to be dealing with the idiotic arguments that I could envision, of Afe’s proteges, arguing that I was slandering the dead if the book was to be published after his demise. He is already well in his 80s. I have offered him the opportunity to defend himself. He went to extra ordinary lengths to deny me my day in court”. See page 93.

The book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ is hereby attached as annexure 3.

All these statements are false and incorrect written deliberately to destroy my reputation. Dele Farotimi referred to me severally in his book as the Doyen of the legal profession.

The book has been circulated all over the country particularly in Ekiti State where so many persons who respect me as an elder state man has expressed their disdain as a result of the defamatory statement made by Dele Farotimi. The book has also been massively distributed online and has reached many persons globally who have expressed concern by Dele Farotimi’s intention to damage my hard-earned reputation. This is contrary to Section 374 of the Criminal Code.

These Statements are contrary to Section 373 and 375 of the Criminal Code which forbids any one from making defamatory statement which is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing him to hatred, contempt or ridicule or likely to damage any person in his profession or trade by an injury to his reputation.

The said statements are meant to lower myself, my law firm and my lawyer’s self-esteem in the eyes of members of the society and also to expose us to hatred, contempt or ridicule in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society. These statements were intended to cause right thinking persons in the society to shun and avoid me, my law firm and my lawyers.

The statements were made with the purpose of discrediting my law firm and ridicule us within the legal profession in order to injure our hard-earned reputation and financial credit.

The statements have caused many of our clients to stay away from us and seek the services of other law firms.

These defamatory statements have aroused the anger of right-thinking members of the society particularly members of the legal profession against me, my law firm and my lawyers.

These statements are likely to set the legal profession and the society at large ablaze in a way that can disturb public peace.

MY REPUTATION AND MY LAW FIRM

With every sense of modesty, I am one of the most distinguished legal luminaries of my generation, renowned both in Africa and globally for my profound contributions to the legal profession and the advancement of education. With over six decades of uninterrupted legal practice, my career is a testament to exceptional dedication, integrity, strategic advocacy, and visionary leadership.

I am a highly accomplished advocate, with some of the most celebrated cases in Nigerian legal history, representing high-profile clients, including government institutions, multinational corporations, and individuals. My advocacy spans domestic and international courts including contributions as a consultant to the Federal Government of Nigeria, World Bank, and various conglomerates. My extensive experience includes my role in arbitration, both locally and internationally, where I remain a respected authority. I appeared in numerous landmark cases, shaping Nigerian jurisprudence and establishing myself as one of the nation’s most formidable legal minds.

My influence goes beyond the courtroom. As the Founder of Afe Babalola & Co. (Emmanuel Chambers), one of Nigeria’s leading law firms, I have trained over 300 lawyers, including 14 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), judges, and attorneys-general, making my chambers one of the most significant contributors to the legal profession in Nigeria. My exceptional litigation skills and legal acumen earned me the prestigious title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1987, cementing his place at the pinnacle of legal practice in the country. I currently have 7 senior advocates in chambers.

I am a renowned scholar and author. I have authored several authoritative legal texts, including Injunctions and Enforcement of Orders and Law and Practice of Evidence in Nigeria. My contributions to legal education extend to teaching at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and delivering lectures at prestigious universities such as the University of Lagos and the University of Ibadan. My popular column, YOU AND THE LAW, published in the Nigerian Tribune, reflects my commitment to educating the public on legal matters.

Beyond my legal practice, I have made extraordinary strides in education. My experience as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (2001-2007) spurred me to establish Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD). ABUAD has quickly become a beacon of academic excellence, integrity, setting new standards in Nigeria’s educational system. My efforts in education has been recognized globally, with numerous honorary degrees from universities including the University of London, University of Lagos and Ekiti State University.

My leadership in academia and law has earned me numerous accolades, including the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR), Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and international recognition such as the Queen Victoria Commemorative Award at the Socrates Awards in Oxford, UK. I was named Africa Man of the Year on Food Security and awarded an Honorary Doctor of Management by the Federal University of Technology, Akure. My groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire generations of lawyers and leaders across Africa and beyond.

In addition to my legal and educational contributions, I remain a committed philanthropist and advocate for reform in various sectors. My vast experience, unmatched expertise and unwavering commitment to excellence make me a trailblazer in the fight for truth, fairness and justice.

Key Achievements:

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), 1987.
Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON).
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Lagos (2001-2007).
Founder and Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD).
Queen Victoria Commemorative Award winner, Oxford UK.
Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of London, Ekiti State University, University of Lagos, and more.
My law firm was established in 1965 and has been nurtured and sustained by the finest legal values including integrity, advocacy, fairness, discipline and justice.

DELE FAROTIMI’S ADMISSION OF CRIME

It is necessary to bring it to your notice that Dele Farotimi admitted to have unlawful access to and corrupted the judiciary when he wrote in page 58 of his book as follows:

“The original Motion prepared by my office was a Motion on Notice. We prepared this and readied our processes to be filed, and then word came to us vide the Ojomu’s palace. Atilade had asked that we filed the motion expatre; this was to avoid a lengthy delay she assured her messangers to me, as having the motion papers served on Afe Babalola & Co will only serve to prolong the resolution of the problems created either by her corruption and or incompetence. My reasoned arguments against the exparte motion were not countenanced by the clients. They all just wanted the mess over and done with. Multi billion naira investments were being undermined by the situation. And several lives were being disrupted they argued”.

DISREGARD FOR RULE OF LAW

It understandable why Dele Farotimi threw caution into the winds in writing his defamatory book. He stated in page 41 of the book, his uttermost disregard for the rule of law as follows:

“It was during one of our heated sessions that I declared my philosophy of law and I believe it was also the day that we began to understand the strength of our synergy and the value and efficiency of our then emergent partnership. I explained to him that I did not read law to follow the rules.”

CONCLUSION

We hereby humbly request that you use your good office to investigate the matter and stop Dele Farotimi from further damaging my reputation, the reputation of my law firm and that of my lawyers.

We also request that all existing hard copies of the said book should be recovered by the police while we take other necessary legal actions against Dele Farotimi.

In addition, his admission of corrupting the judiciary should also be investigated .

We request that this should be treated with utmost urgency in other to preserve the dignity of the temple of justice and the legal profession.

Yours faithfully

Aare Afe Babalola SAN

Founding Partner

Afe Babalola & Co

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Farotimi: I’m Concerned About Afe Babalola’s Reputation, Says Akande

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Former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has expressed concerns over the reputation of legal icon Aare Afe Babalola in his alleged defamation case against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.

“I am really concerned for Afe’s reputation indeed because the whole world is watching and what the police are doing in the name of Afe Babalola,” Akande said on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast programme on Thursday.

The former presidential spokesman said though there is a basis for Afe Babalola to seek redress over the alleged defamation of his person but “what I think it is inelegant is that you will expect somebody like Chief Afe Babalola, with all of his respect and regard, that he would rather pursue this matter as a civil case”.

He said the nonagerian founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) should not have “instigated the police to harass Mr Farotimi the way we have all seen in videos”.

“He (Afe Babalola) is aggrieved and he should pursue his right but you should expect somebody in his class, somebody with his reputation, Afe Babalola is an icon in Nigeria, so, you will expect him to that in view and rather seek a civil process,” Akande said.

Earlier this week, the police in Ekiti State arrested the lawyer and author at his Lagos office and bundled him to Ekiti State for prosecution.

The police arraigned the author on Wednesday for publishing a book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’ where he alleged that Afe Babalola corrupted the Judiciary and procured judgements in the Supreme Court.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the sixteen counts levelled against him.

In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, remanded the suspect in prison custody and adjourned till December 10, 2024.

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