The legal team of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afe Babalola, has set conditions for the release of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
According to Babalola’s lawyers, Farotimi will be released if he can prove the defamatory allegations he made against Babalola in his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
During a press briefing in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday, lawyers Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade, and Lawrence Fasanmi explained that Babalola had petitioned the police to investigate the defamatory claims. They stated that the charges brought against Farotimi by law enforcement were to allow the legal process to take its course.
Ajayi emphasized the importance of verifying facts before forming opinions, urging Nigerians to seek the truth. He questioned whether it was wrong for Babalola to seek justice for the alleged false statements made against him, and stated that Farotimi would be free once he could prove the truth of his assertions.
The legal team clarified that while free speech is allowed, it should not be used to harm another’s reputation. They also aimed to correct misleading publications about the ongoing matter between the Nigeria Police Force and Farotimi.
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