Legal luminary, Afe Babalola has told 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi that Dele Farotimi must retract his “not guilty” plea and publish a public apology in major newspapers in order for the ongoing defamation case to be resolved.
According to The Nation, Babalola revealed this when he was visited by the former Anambra governor on Monday evening.
Obi reportedly went to beg Babalola for forgiveness on behalf of Dele Farotimi, a prominent member of the “Obidient Movement”.
It was gathered that before Obi’s visit, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Hassan Kukah had reached out to Chief Babalola on the issue.
Farotimi has been in detention in Ado-Ekiti since last week over charges of criminal defamation and cybercrime.
He was accused by Babalola of tarnishing his hard earned reputation in the book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System“.
Babalola stated that if Farotimi admits to the allegations and issues an apology, he would consider dropping the case.
“Baba Afe told Obi that he (Babalola) has nothing to gain by Farotimi’s incarceration. If he says the allegations are false and offers apology in some newspapers, then, the case can be withdrawn,” a source said.
Another source said, “After Obi made his case for Farotimi, Babalola asked whether he had seen Farotimi 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.”
Another source added that, Farotimi, who reportedly told Obi that he did not invite anybody to plead on his behalf, demanded that the case against him be withdrawn first as pre-condition for his apology.
Farotimi will remain in prison custody till December 20 when Magistrate Adeosun will rule on his bail application.
