Defamation Lawsuit Filed Against Dele Farotimi

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Olu Daramola has initiated a defamation lawsuit for N500,000 at the Ogun State High Court in Ojodu Abiodun, targeting Dele Farotimi over allegedly harmful content in his book titled *Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System*.

This legal action comes shortly after another defamation suit was brought by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) concerning similar claims about the book.

The lawsuit, marked HCO/65/24 and filed on December 13, 2024, is represented by Iheanyichukwu C. Uwa on behalf of Daramola.

Daramola asserts that the book contains offensive, defamatory statements on page 64, which have damaged his reputation and caused social embarrassment and disrespect among peers.

The claim seeks to establish that the publication has tarnished Daramola’s image as a reputable, law-abiding legal professional.

He is pursuing compensation of N500,000 for general and punitive damages due to the alleged defamatory content in the book.

Additionally, the claimant requests a court order requiring the defendant to publish a full apology in two major newspapers, The Guardian and The Punch, retracting the defamatory statements made in his book.

Daramola also seeks an order for the confiscation and destruction of copies of the book in all forms, including digital formats, from bookstores, libraries, and online platforms.

Furthermore, he asks for a permanent injunction preventing the defendant and any associated parties from distributing or publishing the book.

Lastly, the claimant requests that the court mandates the defendant to pay 10% annual interest on any awarded damages until fully paid.

As of now, no hearing date has been set, as the defendant, currently detained by the Nigeria Correctional Service, has not yet responded to the lawsuit.