In a rather bemusing twist of events that should shock champions of democracy, legal luminary Afe Babalola, SAN, has decided to unleash the full weight of his legal prowess against fellow lawyer and rights activist Dele Farotimi. The accusation? Defamation. The battlefield? Not just the courts, but, bizarrely, Amazon and other bookshelves across the globe.
At the heart of this legal tempest is Farotimi's latest book, a daring exposé that, among other things, critiques the Nigerian Justice system , including its revered legal icons. Instead of offering a robust intellectual rebuttal or penning his own masterpiece to counter the allegations with cold, hard facts, Babalola has opted for a courtroom drama—an apparent attempt to stifle the very essence of free speech.
Let’s pause and consider the absurdity of it all. Farotimi's book has already reached readers worldwide, thanks to platforms like Amazon. Every copy sold, every paragraph read, is now etched into the annals of public discourse. Attempting to confiscate the remaining copies or halt its further sales does not erase what has already been disseminated. On the contrary, such heavy-handed tactics amplify the controversy, cementing Farotimi’s narrative as a significant part of Babalola's legacy.
Does Babalola not realize that the internet does not forget? Does he think that arresting Farotimi will silence the book’s message? If anything, this legal charade is the best marketing campaign Farotimi could have hoped for. Now, even those who hadn’t heard of the book are rushing to get their hands on it.
Afe Babalola is a towering figure in Nigeria's legal and educational history, a man whose achievements speak volumes. Why tarnish this legacy by descending into what many will perceive as an attempt to bully an opposing voice into submission? Wouldn’t a well-crafted rejoinder have been a more dignified, effective response? Imagine the power of a counter-narrative that meticulously debunks Farotimi’s claims and reasserts the truth as Babalola sees it.
This entire saga raises uncomfortable questions about the state of free speech and press freedom in Nigeria. If a man of Farotimi’s stature can be silenced, what hope is there for less prominent voices? In a democracy, ideas should compete in the marketplace of public discourse, not be smothered by lawsuits or arrests.
By targeting Farotimi, Babalola has inadvertently transformed him from an author into a martyr for free speech. The world is watching, and history is taking notes. Every silenced dissenting voice only adds fuel to the fire of public scrutiny.
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If there’s one takeaway from this regrettable episode, it is this: power and influence are not best demonstrated by how effectively one can stifle criticism but by how gracefully one can respond to it. It’s not too late for Babalola to reclaim his legacy—not by fighting shadows in courtrooms, but by embracing the democratic ideals of debate, discourse, and dissent.
In the words of Voltaire, often misquoted but still relevant: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Blessed Omoegbe Jattoh (PolAd)
Executive Director
Kadosh Initiative for Justice and Environmental DevelopmentL
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