By Olaitan Ibrahim
Lagos activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi opened up about allegations that he lied against legal luminary Afe Babalola and other senior lawyers in a book he published shortly after he was released on bail from prison on Tuesday.
Farotimi who was arrested on December 3 in Lagos by and taken to Ekiti where he was arraigned before a Magistrate court for allegedly defaming Afe Babalola in his book titled: ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’
He had in the book accused Babalola and other senior lawyers in his chamber of corrupting the Supreme Court.
He was arrested by the police based on a petition filed by Babalola on the content of the book.
Farotimi was subsequently arraigned in a Magistrate Court in Ekiti on charges of defamation.
However, he was granted bail with stringent conditions last Friday. He was released from prison on Tuesday after meeting the bail conditions.
Speaking to the press shortly after he regained freedom, Leadership newspaper quoted Farotimi as asserting that his fight against what he described as injustice in the Nigerian justice system was anchored on truth.
“It is not ever an easy journey when you are fighting evil, but some years back, before I started this work, God told me that the truth is enough.
It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria. In my war against the evil empire that we all live in, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know,” Farotimi stated.
“In my journey to expose the truth about the injustices we face, I have no regrets and no reason to lie against anyone. The truth is my only defence,” he said.
Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has also filed 12 additional charges bordering cyberbullying against Farotimi at the Federal High Court in Ekiti.
Also, some top lawyers in Afe Babalola Chamber have filed civil suit against him, alleging that he also defamed them in his book.