I rejected ministerial appointments, oil bloc – Afe Babalola
Chief Afe Babalola
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Legal luminary and founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola has revealed that he rejected offer of an oil bloc and ministerial appointment twice.
Babalola said this on Sunday when he received Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and other top traditional rulers who had come to appeal to him to withdraw the criminal defamation suit he filed against lawyer and activist, Dele Farotimi.
Afe Babalola who was rejecting allegation that he is corrupt as insinuated by Dele Farotimi said, “I rejected an oil block and defended the EFCC law and also rejected ministerial nominees twice, wondering why anyone would just wake up and try to rubbish all he had laboured for.
But Afe Babalola added that he has no choice but to obey the appeal of the Ooni and other traditional rulers to obey appeal of the traditional rulers to withdraw the suit against Farotimi.
Babalola had dragged Farotimi to court over claims contained in his book titled “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” where he alleged that the legal luminary corrupted the Judiciary
“I have nothing to gain from his imprisonment, I am happy each time I give,” Afe Babalola said.
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Speaking earlier, the Ooni of Ife commended Afe Babalola for his contribution to the development of the Yoruba race, the nation and the world at large.
He also urged him to heed the appeal to withdraw the suit he filed against Dele Farotimi.
“We all came together to discuss the matter with him and he gave all the full respect to the Obas and agreed.
“We Obas can attest to the hard work of Aare Afe Babalola and how he had invested so hard to build his name and that can not be tarnished and rubbished by anyone.
“Aare Afe Babalola has proven to the world that he cherished his name and the world has heard him loud and clear.
“Dele Farotimi is your son, we give birth to different children in this world and as elders when our children offend us as Yoruba after a little spank, we also pardon such children,” Ooni said during his appeal to Babalola.
