Court Halts Distribution Of Dele Farotimi’s Book Following Afe Babalola’s Lawsuit

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order stopping the production and distribution of Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, authored by embattled lawyer Dele Farotimi.

The order was granted following an application by Afe Babalola, filed through his chambers. Under suit number CV/5372/2024, the court approved an interlocutory injunction on December 6, 2024, brought by Babalola’s representative, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN).

The injunction prohibits Farotimi and his agents, including major retailers such as Amazon, Rovingheights, Booksellers, Jazzhole, Glendora, and Patabah Books, from publishing, selling, or distributing digital or physical copies of the book. It also mandates the immediate seizure of all existing copies until the case is resolved.

Farotimi’s book, which critiques Nigeria’s judicial system, has gained global attention, recently topping Amazon’s global politics bestseller list. The publication alleges manipulations of the judiciary by prominent legal figures, including Afe Babalola, prompting swift legal action.

The court order extends to freezing royalties earned from the book, pending the outcome of the substantive suit. Farotimi’s work has sparked intense debate both in Nigeria and internationally over the integrity of the country’s judicial system.