The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has commended legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, for heeding the appeal of Yoruba monarchs led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, to withdraw a criminal case against Dele Farotimi.
Farotimi, who was arraigned before an Ekiti High Court and granted bail at N30 million, was forgiven by Babalola following the intervention of Yoruba royal fathers.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere lauded Babalola’s decision, describing it as a display of Yoruba values and respect for traditional authority.
The group said, “As attested to by the legal luminary, many people have been appealing to him to forgive the young man but he refused because of the need to protect his hard-earned reputation.
“The coming of Oonirisa, Oba Eniitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, in company of other prominent Yoruba Obas, however left Babalola with no choice than to succumb to the appeal by the royal fathers.
“After listening to Oonirisa, Babalola said that he has not only forgiven Farotimi, he will also instruct his lawyers to withdraw the case he instituted in the law court on the issue.
“The high-ranking legal icon who is also the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, said that he could not disrespect Ooni because of the high regard he has for the royal institution.”
According to the statement, Babalola had earlier resisted appeals from prominent Nigerians said he could not disregard the intervention of the Ooni and other monarchs, citing his respect for Yoruba heritage.
“Among the prominent Nigerians were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Archbishop Mathew Kukah, former Presidential Candidate Peter Obi, and Ewi of Ado Ekiti, to mention a few,” the statement noted.
The legal luminary said his answer to them “has been no but today (Monday), my answer is yes.”
He preceded this with a declaration that he was proud of his Yoruba heritage which, among others, underscores the importance of giving honour to whom it is due.
“By so doing, Aare Afe Babalola has demonstrated, as a true Yoruba son, certain core ethos of being an Omoluabi.
“He came to defend his reputation and when he was appealed to by our foremost traditional institutions, he dropped the gauntlet. This is highly commendable,” Ajayi said.
Afenifere also applauded Ooni and other Monarchs “for the bold step they took.”
“They acted as true Elders in line with the saying ‘Agba kii wa loja, ki ori omo titun wo’ Elders would not sit by in a marketplace to watch the dangling head of a child!
“This act has further demonstrated the valuable roles that our Obas, who are the Custodians of our culture and tradition- can play in the society if given the chance,” the group said
The monarchs who accompanied the Ooni to the Ado-Ekiti residence of Babalola were the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi III; Ajero of Ijero, Oba Adewole Joseph Adebayo; the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejinmi Adu; Alaaye of Efon Alaaye, Oba Dr Emmanuel Aladejare Agunsoye II; and the Olojudo of Ido Ekiti who doubles as Chairman, Ekiti Council Of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Faboro.
