Tope Temokun, the lawyer representing activist and lawyer Dele Farotimi, has dismissed claims that Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was sent to plead with legal icon Afe Babalola in connection to a defamation case.
Farotimi, who is currently detained and facing defamation charges following a petition by Babalola, has firmly denied sending anyone to seek leniency on his behalf.
Addressing the issue, Temokun expressed confidence in his client’s ability to overcome the legal challenges and emphasized Farotimi’s unwavering principles.
“He (Farotimi) told me clearly that anyone familiar with his values, history, and philosophy should know he would never ask someone to beg on his behalf,” Temokun said.
“He said if anyone—even you, Tope—believes such a thing, he would be deeply disappointed.”
The defamation case stems from a petition submitted by Afe Babalola’s law firm to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
The 90-page document, dated December 6, 2024, was signed by Ola Faro, a partner at Afe Babalola & Co., who stated he was acting on his own behalf and that of the firm. The petition also called for Farotimi to be disbarred.
Temokun reiterated that his client remains steadfast in defending his integrity and refuted any speculation about backdoor negotiations.