ADO-EKITI, Nigeria – Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, visited the renowned legal icon and founder of Afe Babalola University, Chief Afe Babalola, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Monday, December 9, 2024.
The visit, held behind closed doors, was reportedly linked to the ongoing court case involving human rights lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.
Sources indicate that former President Olusegun Obasanjo may have facilitated the meeting in an effort to mediate and find a resolution to the legal dispute.
Closed-Door Meeting and Prison Visit
Obi was warmly received by Babalola’s top aide and ushered into a one-hour meeting.
Although no details of the discussions were disclosed, it is believed the session centred on the defamation case against Farotimi.
Following the meeting, Obi proceeded to the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre on Afao Road, where Farotimi is being held.
The human rights lawyer is awaiting trial over allegations of defamation stemming from his book Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
In the book, Farotimi allegedly accused Babalola of compromising the Supreme Court.
Legal Proceedings and Fresh Charges
Farotimi was arraigned last week before an Ado-Ekiti Magistrate Court, where he was charged with defamation of character. The trial is set to resume tomorrow.
In a separate development, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has filed a fresh suit against Farotimi at the Ado-Ekiti Federal High Court.
The suit, marked FHC/AD/CR/104/2024, centres on alleged cybercrime violations.
Although the Magistrate Court granted Farotimi bail of ₦50 million, with a condition requiring a guarantor owning landed property in Ekiti, his legal team is still working to meet the bail conditions.
Efforts to obtain comments from Obi after his visit to Babalola and Farotimi were unsuccessful. He declined to speak to journalists, quietly entering his car and leaving the premises.
The visits underscore ongoing attempts to navigate the high-profile legal dispute, which has drawn significant public attention due to its implications for Nigeria’s legal and political landscape.
As Farotimi’s trial resumes tomorrow, observers will be watching closely for any indications of progress towards an amicable resolution.
Meanwhile, Obi’s involvement, reportedly at the behest of Obasanjo, signals the weight of political and legal interests in the case.
