On Monday evening, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, reportedly visited Chief Afe Babalola, a distinguished legal figure and founder of Afe Babalola University, in his office located in Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State.
Obi was greeted warmly by Babalola’s chief aide, who guided him into a private meeting.
Sources close to the situation indicated that Obi’s visit was related to the ongoing legal case against human rights lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi. It was also revealed that the visit was organized by former president Olusegun Obasanjo in an effort to find a peaceful resolution to the legal matter.
Following his meeting with Babalola, Obi also paid a visit to Farotimi at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre along Afao Road, where they had a discussion.
Reports indicate that this visit was a continuation of Obi’s earlier meeting with Babalola, which lasted over an hour.
Attempts to speak with Obi after the meeting were unsuccessful, as he chose to ignore journalists and left quietly in his vehicle.
Farotimi was recently brought before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti on charges of defamation related to his book, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,’ in which he alleged that Babalola had compromised the Supreme Court, among other claims.
The trial is set to continue tomorrow at the Magistrate Court.
Furthermore, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has initiated a new suit against Farotimi at the Ado-Ekiti Federal High Court concerning cybercrime.
Despite being granted bail of N50 million, equivalent to that of someone possessing property in Ekiti, as of the report’s filing, Farotimi’s team was still in the process of meeting the bail conditions.
