The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an ex-parte order halting the production and distribution of a book; Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, authored by now jailed human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi
The book, which has sparked heated debate for its allegations of judicial manipulation, recently topped Amazon’s global politics bestseller list.
Farotimi was arrested by armed police officers on December 3, 2024, at his office and transported to Ekiti. The following day, he was arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti for alleged criminal defamation of prominent lawyer Afe Babalola, SAN, due to claims made in the book.
Farotimi accused Babalola of manipulating the judiciary to secure favorable rulings for his clients.
The court order was sought and obtained by Afe Babalola, who requested an immediate halt to both physical and digital distribution of the book.
In suit No. CV/5372/24, filed by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, on December 6, 2024, the court granted an interlocutory injunction preventing Farotimi and affiliated parties from selling, distributing, or publishing the book in any format.
The injunction also orders the seizure of all physical copies of the book.
The book’s rapid rise in global popularity, coupled with its critical take on Nigeria’s criminal justice system, likely prompted the legal action.
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