Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Babatunde Ogala has dismissed allegations that legal luminary Chief Afe Babalola is being used to target activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi for his anti-Tinubu stance during the 2023 general elections.
Speaking on the matter during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Ogala described the claims as “ridiculous and insulting” to the 95-year-old Babalola, a revered figure in Nigeria’s legal and educational circles.
Afe Babalola, at 95, being used by who to achieve what? I think it’s ridiculous for those who say such. That is most ridiculous and insulting on Chief Afe Babalola, a revered icon, a legend, a prominent Nigerian educationist and lawyer who has put in 63 years of legal practice, risen to the very highest peak of the profession,” Ogala stated.
The allegations arose in the context of a criminal defamation case involving Farotimi, where some commentators accused Babalola of acting on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s allies to silence dissenting voices. Ogala firmly rejected these claims, emphasising the independence and integrity of Babalola.
“For those who say that, I hope somebody will also caution them to be conscious of the fact that they too may be liable for defamation for saying such,” Ogala warned.
During the interview, he also noted, “A lot has been said about jurisdiction. Some have even argued albeit perhaps not having knowledge of the law that because the alleged defamatory comments were made in a book published in Lagos, Lagos ought to be the place where the court should have jurisdiction. That is not so. When a publication is made it is published to the whole world not just to Lagos. Moreso in these days of internet where everything is thrown up in the internet—like in this book, which I understand is even available on Amazon and a lot of people are reading it on their mobile phones all around the world.
“It’s a matter of where the person who is allegedly defamed resides or elects or where the publication is brought to his attention that has jurisdiction. Jurisdiction is limitless. It is not confined to just the place where that book was published. If you write something defamatory about me in Nigeria and I get to read it in Lagos, I can exercise my right in Lagos, Nigeria.
“In this case, that book, having been widely published and widely read and the complainant in this case—the nominal complainant, chief Afe Babalola, SAN—is resident in Ekiti and that is where he had become aware of this alleged defamatory comment. What then was his choice? That is his domicile, so he lodged a complaint.”
The case continues to generate public interest, with discussions highlighting the broader implications of defamation laws and the role of the judiciary in safeguarding free speech while addressing defamatory conduct.
Melissa Enoch
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