This tug-of-war between Baba Afe Babalola and the radical lawyer Dele Farotimi is very instructive. First, let me make a disclosure so I don’t seem to be hiding my sincere view. I have zero respect for Dele Farotimi. I see him as a radical who constantly seeks attention and tries to present himself as a deviant with great ideas. I often ignore his comments. I find more emotion than sense in what he says, and I have followed him for a long time.
On the other hand, when it comes to Baba Are Afe Babalola, I have great respect for his legal legacy. At 95, I will not even say anything bad about Baba. I wish him well – but just one thing 🤣. I don’t like the person of Baba. I find him a bit much in things he does, often operating like a bulldozer. But hey, Baba Babalola has built giants in legal practice and deserves his kudos for a lifetime of achievement.
Turning back to the issue at hand, you will probably say that since I don’t really like both parties, I should be somewhat objective. I don’t think it works like that. Being accused of what we have or have not done can be very subjective, except when facts are provided, and we all respond differently to accusations.
Late Justice Akinola Aguda advises that letting it go is a better option in defamation and that hitherto hidden historical accounts may be revealed to tarnish the person completely. It depends on what the lie against me is if I am the one involved. I don’t agree with the erudite scholar who says we should just let everything go.
Imagine if someone wrote in
a book that I am homosexual or bisexual or that he saw me sleeping with an animal. I would not let it go.
Or if someone wrote in a book that I am a thief or accuses me of raping someone in writing, I will not let it go.
I believe there is a red line for everyone. What is your own red line of what would be written about you that would make you say, “hell, no!”
It is very easy to generalise that one should let go and that people (readers) will forget, but one would die a sad man/woman because some people will believe the story simply because you did not challenge it. Many people take anything written in a book as nothing but the truth.
Baba Afe Babalola has built a strong legal reputation for over 50 years. If a book (not a speech that is more easily forgotten) noted that he has been successful only because he has been corruptly enriching judges, then his entire over 50 years of legal practice would be destroyed. After he dies, people will cite the book. Many will even argue that he would have challenged it while alive if it was not true. That it must be true if he didn’t. I don’t think any old man wants to die like that.
From the outside, it is very easy to assume that these things can be ignored and that the story will go away. But if you are the one personally affected it is certainly not easy (Ko easy rara 🤣). I can see why anyone may want to go to court to clear their name.
The second part has to do with the reputation of our judiciary. We know there is corruption in those places. We hear and read about it regularly. The entire Supreme Court has been damaged if this is left unchallenged. I wonder if the Supreme Court will ignore this book even if Baba Afe Babalola does. If you are that one person who knows in your heart that as a judge of the Supreme Court, you have never received a bribe from Baba Afe Babalola, then you must be seriously ruffled by this. This means Dele Farotimi is saying that the judges were probably corrupted for every case the old man had won in that court. Should we let that go too? If anyone in the world wants to argue why Nigeria’s judiciary is rubbish and not to be trusted, they now have this book to cite.
Finally, I assume that Dele Farotimi has the joker up his sleeve in all these.
I assume that he wrote this book as a part-one-scene-one of the drama series and, therefore, has evidence for his claims.
Perhaps he is hoping for his day in court so he can adduce evidence. That would be fantastic.
For those of you, his supporters, instead of blaming those who want him in court, just encourage him to put his evidence together; after all, he is a lawyer. Let him have his day in court and enjoy it.
There’s no need to cover up everything, and he goes away earning so much money from a book of lies.
Amazon says the book is a bestseller – good for him! Suppose what he wrote is not true? I’m unlikely to read the book unless it is validated. Let it turn into a fantastic book of wonders when he proves so much corruption that we all seemingly know about.
Imagine the future where many others would see this as an opportunity to write a book of lies about just anyone to make money. All my doubts will evaporate, and Dele Farotimi will become a Hero if he proves his point in court. History would have been made. And who exactly is afraid of that good ending?
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