By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Sequel to the defamation charges filed against Dele Farotimi by the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola has agreed to drop the charges following the intervention of Ooni of Ife His royal Majesty Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ewi of Ado Ekiti and other prominent yoruba kings.
Dele Farotimi a human rights lawyer and activist had authored a book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” where he alleged that Aare Afe Babalola bribed the judiciary and illegally procured judgements in the supreme court.
The published book subsequently led to his arrest and arraignment in court for criminal charges.
Addressing newsmen at the school premises in Ado Ekiti, at 12 am midnight at ABUAD conference hall, Aare Afe Babalola said today is a special day to him because he is a yoruba man and very proud one.
He declared that different traditional institutions, respected personalities both within and outside the country have been on his neck to pardon Farotimi not leaving out Bishop Kukah and former president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Aare Afe maintains that he rejected ministerial nominations twice plus other juicy offers from private and government institutions wonder why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for.
” I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, i am happh each time i give and i ensure my integrity is intact and i want to assure you that i have accepted the appeal of our Royal Majesty and the charges will be dropped he concluded.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi had earlier appealed passionately to the legal luminary to consider the various forces and personalities that have intervened in the matter.
The monarch who led other prominent Ekiti traditional rulers to Afe Babalola at ABUAD on Sunday night praised Are Afe Babalola after their meeting with him, commended his contribution to the development of the yoruba race and the world at large.
” We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed to drop the charges.”
Ooni said the Obas can attest to the hardwork of Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name and that cannot be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.
“Dele Farotimi is your son, we gave birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba we spank and we also pardon such child”
“Agba ni n gba a si ti fi ese ile to o” he concluded.