Renowned legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oluwale Aladedoye, has accused activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi of making baseless claims in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
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Aladedoye, who once worked closely with Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, alleged that Farotimi’s book contains false allegations against individuals involved in a 2013 Supreme Court case, which had long been settled.
Speaking on a Newsday program, Aladedoye provided a detailed history of the case, emphasizing that Farotimi was not directly involved in the original Supreme Court proceedings. He revealed that Farotimi represented a third-party estate, French Colony Estate, in the aftermath of the ruling but was never counsel to the principal parties in the case.
Aladedoye refuted Farotimi’s allegations that Chief Babalola influenced the Supreme Court’s decision, calling the claims outright lies. “How could someone who was not present during the Supreme Court hearings allege bribery?” he asked, adding that all members of the Supreme Court panel involved in the case had since retired.
The SAN further questioned Farotimi’s timing, noting that the book was published 11 years after the Supreme Court ruling. “If he had credible evidence of judicial misconduct, why did he wait until all involved justices had retired before making these allegations? This delay undermines the authenticity of his claims,” Aladedoye said.
He also highlighted procedural options available to address grievances, such as filing petitions with the National Judicial Council (NJC) or the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC). According to Aladedoye, Farotimi bypassed these avenues and instead published defamatory claims.
Defamation, Aladedoye explained, is both a civil and criminal offense in some Nigerian states, including Ekiti. He noted that Farotimi himself acknowledged the defamatory nature of his statements in the book.
The controversy has sparked widespread debate on the boundaries of free speech and accountability within Nigeria’s legal profession. Farotimi has since been sued for defamation by Chief Afe Babalola and faces charges under the Cyber Crimes Act. His bail conditions, set at ₦50 million with sureties, have also drawn significant public attention.
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