Afe Babalola, a prominent Nigerian legal figure, has obtained a court order to ban the circulation of Dele Farotimi’s book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System and seize its royalties. The move is part of a 16-count defamation lawsuit initiated by Babalola, who alleges that the book contains damaging claims about his involvement in judicial corruption, including accusations of influencing Supreme Court decisions and orchestrating fraudulent judgments.
The court order seeks to prevent further distribution of the book via platforms like Amazon. This case has sparked debates on freedom of expression versus reputational protection. Critics argue the lawsuit could suppress dissent and discourage scrutiny of powerful figures, while supporters see it as a necessary step to safeguard Babalola’s professional reputation .
