From News Editor
The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has accepted to drop charges Mr Dele Farotimi, the Human Rights Activist, who is currently facing criminal defamation charges instituted by the legal luminary.
This followed the appeal by foremost Yoruba Monarchs
including the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Oguwusi and other prominent Ekiti monarchs pleaded with legal icon to drop the charges during a meeting they held with him at ABUAD campus.
Recall that an Ekiti Magistrate Court recently granted Dele Farotimi ₦30 million bail on the criminal defamation case brought before the court by Babalola.
Addressing newsmen around midnight on Sunday, the Oni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said Yoruba leaders and stakeholders were following the event keenly and had to appeal to Aare Babalola to Pardon his son, Farotimi
He commended Aare Babalola for building his integrity over the years adding that no one could rubbish his name.
In his response to the Appeal by the monarchs, Babalola, said he had received several letters and calls on the issue, particularly from notable Nigerians including former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Bishop Kukah but said that he had rejected their appeal
Are Babalola added that he had nothing to gain in the imprisonment of Farotimi, saying that with Ooni and other monarchs intervention, he had no option but to accede to their request.
He said that he would instuct his lawyers to discontinue the case.
Other prominent monarchs present at the parley were the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejuyigbe, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu, the Oloye of Oloye Ekiti, Ajero of Ijero Ekiti, Olojudo of Ido Ekiti, among others.