By Miracle Ogunde
Legal luminary, Afe Babalola has said that the detained journalist, Dele Farotimi would only be released if he could prove the defamatory allegations against him.
The legal team of the Senior Lawyer, stated this condition for the release of the embattled human rights journalist.
Babalola’s lawyers, Owoseni Ajayi, Olakanmi Falade and Lawrence Fasanmi, disclosed this during a press briefing in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital city on Friday.
The lawyers said Babalola petitioned the Police to investigate the defamatory allegations Farotimi made in the book titled, ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’.
They explained that charging Farotimi to court by the law enforcement agency was for the law to take its due cause on the matter.
According to the lawyers, the press conference was to correct the various misleading publications about the ongoing matter between the Nigeria Police Force and Farotimi.
He said, “All facts are verifiable. I urge Nigerians to verify and find out what the truth is first before picking a side.
“Is it wrong for Aare Afe Babalola to seek justice for these false utterances against him? Should justice only be available to Mr Dele Farotimi because Aare Afe Babalola is a global icon?
“Once Mr Dele Farotimi can show proof that his assertions in the book are true, then he will be free.
“The law allows free speech, but not one that is calculated to injure the good reputation of another.”
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