Olayiwola Matthew
The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order to halt the distribution and production of the book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System” authored by embattled lawyer Dele Farotimi.
The court ruling follows an application spearheaded by Afe Babalola through his chambers.
The court, under suit number CV/5372/2024, granted an interlocutory injunction sought by Mr. Babalola’s representative, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), on December 6, 2024.
The injunction restricts Farotimi and his agents, including major retailers such as Amazon, Rovingheights, Booksellers, Jazzhole, Glendora, and Patabah Books, from publishing, selling, or distributing both digital and physical copies of the controversial book.
Additionally, the court ordered the immediate seizure of all copies of the book, pending the resolution of the substantive suit.
The injunction follows the global success of Farotimi’s book, which recently topped Amazon’s global politics bestseller list.
The book reportedly sheds light on alleged manipulations of the judiciary by high-profile legal practitioners, including claims against Afe Babalola himself.
Farotimi’s publication, which critiques Nigeria’s judicial system, has sparked significant debate both locally and internationally. Sources indicate that the allegations within the book prompted swift legal action from Babalola’s team. The injunction also seeks to freeze royalties earned from the book’s sales.