• Akinseye George, SAN, hails Babalola

“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give…” — Aare Afe Babalola, SAN

“Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elder statesman, you have seen it all, you are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elder stateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country… ” — Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (the Ọjájá II)

Following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (the Ọjájá II), Aare Afe Babalola SAN, the Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, in the early hours of Monday, conceded to the withdrawal of the suits he instituted against activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

Chief Babalola had alleged in a petition to the police commissioner in Ekiti State that Farotimi defamed him in a book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, leading to the arrest, arraignment of the lawyer before two courts in Ekiti and his eventual 20 days of detention in Ado Ekiti prison.

Farotimi was charged with criminal defamation before an Ekiti State Magistrate Court, Ado Ekiti District and cyber-bullying before the Ado Ekiti Division of Federal High Court.

The nonagenarian, who spoke at ABUAD after the intervention of the Ooni other top traditional rulers at the midnight meeting, said, he had agreed to withdraw the criminal case, saying, “I will tell my lawyers to withdraw the case.”

Pouring encomiums on the aged Senior Advocate, Prof Yemi Akinseye-George, SAN in a short message sent to Law & Society Magazine said:

“We salute the Oonirisha, the Arole Oodua and the eminent Obas in his company for this great feat. We salute the great Aare Afe Babalola, for bowing to the pressure from their Royal Highnesses. May your days be long. Long live the Yoruba Nation; Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Equally in attendance were the Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro; the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe; the Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adewole: the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu; the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Michael Ademolaju; and the Alaaye of Efon Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Aladejare.

Iterating the significance of the Yoruba traditional institution and its influence, Babalola said, “The monarchs are here, they have appealed to me over a criminal charge involving somebody who said I was corrupt.”

Explaining that he had rejected all earlier appeals to take the cases out of court, Babalola who said he felt bad over Farotimi accusing him of winning all his cases through corruption listed those who had appealed to him to take the matter out of court to include former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah; and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Adejugbe.

He said, “If you go through the pamphlet (Farotimi’s book), you will find that he attacked many judges by names, he attacked Supreme Court judges, and none is bothered, but I am bothered. I am bothered because of where and how I started life, from the farm to where I am.

“There is nothing I am going to gain from his imprisonment. There is nothing I am going to gain from so-called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, rather how to spend what I have for the benefit of others. The only time I am happy is when I give.

“The request is simple, take away this criminal case in court. When Obasanjo wrote, he came here, I said no. when Kukah phoned and came, I said no, but on this occasion, I say yes. Thank you Kabiyesis. I will speak to my lawyers to withdraw it.”

Speaking on behalf of Yoruba monarchs, the Ooni had requested Babalola to withdraw the case in court, assuring him that “nobody can tarnish your name. Your name is more than silver and gold and you have stood for your name with the message that nobody can joke with your name.”

Ogunwusi, who acknowledged Babalola’s contributions to the development of Yoruba, Nigeria and the world, said, “We (monarchs) came here to discuss the matter with him and he gave full respect to the obas and agreed.

“We, the obas, can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he has invested so hard to build his name. The name cannot be tarnished or rubbished by anyone. Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherishes his name and the world has heard him clearly.

“Baba, we want to appeal and also use our race to instruct you. Dele Farotimi is your son, you may not know him, we give birth to different children in this world, some are tough, some are soft, some are hard. Why we are here is our ethos as a race.”

The Ooni added, “We are using our race because some of our elders in Yorubaland and even beyond Yorubaland have spoken, but combining forces with the traditional institution, we have heard you, enough, enough and enough. Your name is intact. We have resolved the matter in our own way, we have done the needful.”

In a petition dated November 19, 2024, addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Afe Babalola alleged that defamatory content in Dele Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, tarnished his reputation.

Farotimi was arrested in Lagos by officers of the Ekiti State Police Command and transported to Ado-Ekiti, where he faced a 16-count charge of criminal defamation and cyberbullying. Following his arraignment in a magistrate court, he was remanded in custody.

The allegations stem from claims in the book accusing Babalola and other Senior Advocates of Nigeria of influencing Supreme Court justices through corruption.

Read the full text of the statement from Ooni’s palace below.

OONI RESOLVES ISSUES BETWEEN AARE AFE BABALOLA AND DELE FAROTIMI

The Ooni of Ife, Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II in company of about prominent Yoruba traditional Rulers in Ekiti state was at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) last night to appeal to the founder of the university Aare Afe Babalola to forgive the human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi and withdraw the ongoing criminal case instituted against him.

Ooni Ogunwusi arrived Ado Ekiti at about 10:08 pm last night into the waiting hands of Aare Afe Babalola himself accompanied by the Vice Chancellor Professor Elisabeta Smaranda Olarinde
Bursar Pastor Joseph Modupe Babalola,
The school PRO, Deans of various faculties at the university and the legal team of Afe Babalola handling Farotimi’s criminal case.

The Vice chancellor in her welcome speech at the meeting acknowledged Ooni’s love for the school’s founder and the school itself which she described as one of the leading universities in Africa.

The Ooni briefed the journalists outcome of the meeting which was earlier held close door between Afe Babalola and the Ooni accompanied by Ewi of Ado, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu, Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr. Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti who doubles as Chairman, Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro that having watched the scenarios surrounding the criminal case instituted against Dele Farotimi with rapt attention, it has become very imperative to apply Alternative Dispute Resolution method which Yoruba race was known for in the past because it’s a case between father and son.

“We have come today to appeal to Aare Babalola to forgive his son; Dele Farotimi and what we want from him is to withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi today.

“Aare Afe Babalola, you are an elderstateman, you have seen it all, you are one of the iconic voices in this country, a great man per excellence, you are a rare breed who has excelled in everything you have touched in this life, a very God fearing elderstateman, above all, you are one of the proponents of the Yoruba ethos of Omoluwabi which has been your strongest value that you hold in our country. This what we are using to bring down the tempo in what has happened between you and your son Dele Farotimi. We have been very proud of you as a great Yoruba elderstateman. You have done great things for this race and Nigeria such that your name can never be forgotten.”

“We’ve all come together as traditional Rulers to discuss with you on this issue and this gentleman Dele Farotimi is your son and you must forgive him and withdraw the criminal charges against him. As a father, you have soft sons and you have tough sons, Dele Farotimi is a tough son of yours. You have indeed made a point that your name can not be be messed with”.

“I hereby withdraw the criminal charges against Farotimi” – Afe Babalola.

When given the microphone to respond to the request made by the Ooni and the traditional Rulers, Aare Afe Babalola did not hesitate to accept the request saying he grew up as a child to understand such interventions by the traditional rulers. He declared he had not only forgiven Dele Farotimi but also will instruct his lawyers to withdraw the criminal charges against him with immediate effect, because of the honour for the Ooni and the other Obas.

“Today is a very important day for me, I’m a Yoruba man and I’m very proud to be one. Ewi of Ado has come here to meet me on this matter, former president Obasanjo has intervened, same with Bishop Matthew Kukah and a host of other prominent Nigerians to ask for the exact thing you have come to ask for this evening., my answer to them has been “NO” but today my answer is “YES”

Your coming is unquantifiable in terms of money, who Am I? When the colonialists came here in 17th century or thereabouts, they found as a fact that Yoruba land was a highly organised society with an advanced systems of government with each town headed by an Oba who was regarded as a replica of God on earth. His words were commands.”

In the middle ages, the Greeks had a saying”the meadow that grow on the bank of a river which obeys the direction of the flood remains strong forever but the meadow that grow that disobey the direction of the flood were broken asunder”.

Aare Babalola concluded his response with a an Adage in Yoruba saying ” Eni ti o ba nI nkan lati se, kii wo elegan rara” meaning “those who change the world for the better do not wait to respond to criticism”

He said he had listened to the Ooni’s advice and he certainly didn’t want to be a meadow by the riverside which disobeys the flood.

I was a lawyer who defended the EFCC law, yes I’m corrupt, I was given an oil block, when I looked at the money and saw that it was too much , I rejected it, yes I’m corrupt, I was offered ministerial appointments twice, I rejected it, yes I’m corrupt because whatever I am, I don’t want anybody to say I made it through corruption. Look at my books, I’m Chairman, Transparency International based in Germany, I have given lectures against corruption with my papers in many universities globally. For someone to allege me that I have won my cases through corruption, it’s an attempt to defame me, that was why I rejected all appeals earlier made to me. But when I heard that Ooni was coming, I knew I’m in a fix today. “Nkan de o”. There is nothing I’m going to gain from his(Dele) imprisonment and there’s nothing I want from the so called damages. I am not in quest of more wealth, I’m rather concerned on managing the one I have already. Dele Farotimi is hereby forgiven. On this occasion, I say “YES”.

Ooni departed venue of the meeting at about half past midnight for his Ojaja Park in Akure from where he is expected to make his departure to Abuja on Monday.

Signed:
Otunba Moses Olafare,
Director, Media & Public Affairs,
Ooni’s Palace

By Chibuike Nwabuko

The new FCT FIDA chairperson, Barr. Chioma Onyenucheya-Ukoh has called for collaboration with the media to protect the rights of women and children. The chairperson made the call at a media parley in Abuja on Saturday, attended by some members of her executives and journalists drawn from different media houses.

Lamenting the incessant cases of defilement of minors as well as other forms of violence against women and girls, she re-stated FIDA’s commitment to defending women and children against all forms of injustice at no cost (pro bono).

While stressing the pivotal role the media plays in creating awareness about societal ills that need to be addressed as well as acting as a bridge between FIDA and Survivors as well as victims, she appealed to the media for continued partnership and support in the fight to end violence against women and girls.

According to her, “top of our things to do, which is why we are having their parley this afternoon, is that with the work we do, with the demographic we serve, the people who we serve in our mandate as FIDA, it is impossible to effectively do that work, if we have everybody signed on and we don’t have the media to do that with us because part of the challenge we have is that there is poor enlightenment on even the issues. It is obvious that a lot of people don’t even understand the provisions of the law, particularly as it affects women and children. So sometimes, infractions are because of ignorance which unfortunately the law doesn’t permit as an excuse. So as part of helping to enlighten the people as to what legal provisions on subjects of children and women, we need you – the press.

“Then to also give visibility to the work we do, because at the risk of sounding immodest, FIDA Nigeria has done a lot and keeps doing a lot and I speak particularly about FIDA Abuja branch. There have been a lot of activities over the years. FIDA Abuja would be 35 next year and in all this time, it has been a lot of work consistently and if all this work is done without the necessary visibility, people may not realise where they can go to when they are in need of such services as we render.

Onyenucheya-Ukoh further stated that part of the reason for the media parley is essentially to remind media practitioners “of what objectives of FIDA are and what we do and to share with you our desires as to how we think you can come in to help us ensure that we all enjoy fairly better society because the quality of attention that women and children rights and welfare we enjoy by the hopeful partnership that will arise from this parley.”

She highlighted that women and children face all forms of harmful, degrading, discriminatory practices daily and many times, these are people who may not be able to afford the services of lawyers.

“We realized that this is part of giving back to the society and as women who have been called to the practice of law in Nigeria, we can at least come together – this is what FIDA does. This is our own platform of giving back to the society; to lend our speciality, and our professional knowledge to serving women and children who would otherwise do not have a voice,” she said.

The FIDA FCT Chairperson who acknowledged and appreciated that the media is doing enough, added that “if in all we do, we do it in silos, we won’t be able to achieve the society that we want.”

She, therefore, charged the media to target their reporting in a way that it would achieve the desired outcome “such that whether we are targeting the general society by way of information or we are targetting policymakers or political leaders or leaders of thoughts – whether they are traditional or religious leaders, for media to formulate strategies that can help to ensure that the issues are reported or projected in the right manner that will elicit the desirable reactions.”

FIDA Abuja Chair further appealed to the media to be more sensitive in reporting gender-related stories, particularly as it affect women and girls.

Urging journalists to give accurate visibility to reports that will bring the right result, she noted that sometimes stories that do not portray the right legal position or draw focus on what the real legal issues should be are seen in the public space thereby inadvertently supporting the inaccurate narratives.

Mrs Onyenucheya-Ukoh assured that FIDA is available to give every legal opinion/ guidance that will help in sensitive reporting even in the choice of words.

On proactive and prompt communication update on FIDA, the FCT Chairperson said; “Chioma Onyenucheya–Ukoh has never refrained from responding to any call to lend the voice on any subject within FIDA thematic point, it has never happened and I don’t discriminate against platforms even if it is a one-person audience.

“I would be ready to address what needs to be.be addressed. So, if you have had any challenges in the past as to being able to access resources or authorities or as to speed for immediate response, that can’t happen again – FIDA has a rich reserve of resources and I speak responsibly and sincerely. Even if I am not going to be personally available, there are many people who are able and willing to and I can guarantee you, I will get you such people for any time I am not able to do it personally”.

A woman who was blamed by French courts for her divorce because she no longer had sex with her husband won an appeal in Europe’s top human rights court, the court said on Thursday, reigniting a debate in France over women’s rights.

The French woman – identified as Ms. H.W, born in 1955 – brought her case to the European Court of Human Rights in 2021 after exhausting legal avenues in France almost a decade following the divorce.

The ECHR ruled that the French courts had violated the woman’s right to respect for private and family life.

“In the present case, the Court could not identify any reason capable of justifying this interference by the public authorities in the area of sexuality,” it said in a statement.

The woman, who married her husband in 1984 and had four children with him, wanted the divorce, but contested being blamed for the breakdown, arguing it was an unjust intrusion into her private life and a violation of her physical integrity.

She cited health problems and threats of violence from her husband as reasons why she had not had intimate relations from 2004 onwards.

The ECHR ruling comes amid a period of soul-searching in France after the high-profile case of Gisele Pelicot, whose husband was found guilty of drugging his wife and inviting dozens of men over to their home to rape her. The case shocked the world, rekindled thorny debates about women’s rights in France and turned Gisele Pelicot into a feminist icon.

In a statement released by her lawyer, Lilia Mhissen, H.W celebrated her legal victory.

“I hope this decision will mark a turning point in the fight for women’s rights in France,” she said. “It is now imperative that France, like other European countries, such as Portugal or Spain, take concrete measures to eradicate this rape culture and promote a true culture of consent and mutual respect.”

Mhissen said the ECHR ruling has no impact on H.W.’s divorce, which is definitive. However, she said it will have a major impact on French law, preventing French judges from making similar divorce rulings in the future.

“This decision marks the abolition of the marital duty and the archaic, canonical vision of the family,” she said in a statement. “Courts will finally stop interpreting French law through the lens of canon law and imposing on women the obligation to have sexual relations within marriage.”

FRANCE TO ‘ADAPT’ LAW

France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs represented the French government in the case.

A diplomatic source said the government acknowledged the decision and added that the French government had been involved in the fight against sexual and sexist violence, especially within couples, for years. A law that would modify the legal definition of rape was under consideration in parliament at the moment, the source said.

Nicolas Hervieu, a law professor at Sciences Po university, said the decision was “humiliating for France but salutary for the reminder of the principles of sexual liberty and of protection for victims of sexual violence.”

Gerald Darmanin, France’s justice minister, told reporters he would speak with lawmakers about changing the law. “Obviously we will go in the direction of history and we will adapt our law,” he said.

H.W., who is from Le Chesnay near Paris, said she had been deeply traumatised by the original French ruling, which “legitimised a family environment where the privacy and dignity of women are ignored and flouted.”

H.W.’s case was supported by two French women’s activism groups.

Emmanuelle Piet, the head of one of them, the Feminist Collective Against Rape, said she was delighted.

“Ms. W spent 15 years fighting this battle, and it ended in victory, bravo,” she said. “When you are forced to have sexual relations in marriage, it is rape.”

Story by Reuters

A retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Emir of Lafia, HRH. Hon. Justice Sidi Bage, Honorable Justice Ejembi Eko (JSC, Retired), the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, and Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, law teacher and ex-United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking persons in Africa have been confirmed Life Benchers.

At the event which took place during the Body of Benchers meeting on Thursday 23rd January 2025, 15 Benchers were confirmed as Life Benchers, increasing the total number of Life Benchers to 170, a cap set for the next five years.

Other new Life Benchers include: Chief Professor Mike Ozekhome, SAN; and Senator Michael Opayemi Bamidele.

34 days to go! The Early bird registration for the 65th NBA AGC which began on January 1, 2025, will end on February 28, 2025.

When it closes, regular registration will commence on March 1, 2025, and run through May 31, 2025.

This year’s conference will take place in the Garden City of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The NBA AGC is an annual event dedicated to exploring the latest developments in law and providing participants with the highest-level insights from leading experts in the field.

How to Register:
To register for the conference, please follow the simple step-by-step guide below:

1. Visit the registration portal at https://agc.nigerianbar.org.ng/register/event.
2. Click on “Register”.
3. Select the “Individual” option.
4. Input your details as prompted.
5. Preview your details for accuracy.
6. An email verification link will be sent to your registered email address (please check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox).
7. Proceed to login using the verified details.
8. Click on “Make Payment” to complete your registration.
9. Once payment is made, you will receive a receipt and a confirmation email.

Important Notes:
• Your Supreme Court Number (SCN) will serve as your unique identifier throughout the registration and conference process.
• QR codes will also be utilized for verification purposes during the event.
• We urge all registrants to ensure their email details are correctly entered to avoid delays in receiving verification and confirmation emails.

The NBA looks forward to welcoming you to this prestigious event, where critical legal issues and innovations will be discussed, and networking opportunities will abound. Act promptly to secure your participation at early bird rates, which will only be available until February 28, 2025. 

For registration inquiries or further assistance, please contact Sadeeq at: [email protected] or 09129209903(Strictly on Whatsapp).
Register today and join us for an unforgettable 2025 Annual General Conference!
Signed;
Chief Emeka Obegolu SAN, Chairman, AGCPC

Barbara Omosun, Esq.
Secretary AGCPC

Veteran Nollywood actress, Joke Silva, has expressed concern overthe murders of women by their partners in the country over alleged infidelity.

This is coming after a housewife identified as Mrs Chioma Nwaka died after being set ablaze by her middle-aged husband, Obiozor Nwaka, over suspected infidelity in Anambra.

Read Also: Again Devil Gets the Blame: Woman doused with fuel and set on fire by husband in Anambra dies, husband accuses Satan

In an exclusive interview with Saturday Beats, the actress, 63 expressed her outrage and said men who kill their partners for alleged infidelity should be jailed for life.

She said, “These men should be tried and put in jail for life because it is a capital offence. The law should take its course because it’s ridiculous. Men cheat all the time. Do they get killed? Do they get burnt? What rubbish is that? Where’s the proof that she cheated? And what about the man who she cheated with, what would happen to him? Is he supposed to go scot-free?”

She added, “It’s so bad. Even if there’s evidence of cheating, why can’t you just carry your bag and leave? Or send the woman back to her parents? If you investigate properly, you’ll probably find that the murderer has cheated a million times, yet he’s killing his partner in one instance.

Read Also:Man who burnt wife to death begs sons for forgiveness, Anambra Govt says justice will take full course

“The women who are dead now are people’s children and mothers too.”

On the entertainment industry’s role in addressing the killings, Silva said, “How much advocacy do you want the industry to do? One of the best forms of advocacy is enforcing sanctions for bad behaviour. This isn’t just bad behaviour; it is criminal.”