By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
Biography
Dele Farotimi is a legal practitioner, author, activist and the founder of Dele Farotimi & Co.
He was born on 27 April 1968. Dele is currently 56 years old (as of 2024).
He is famous for his staunch opinion on the total overhaul of the Nigerian system and the 1999 Constitution.
Dele is a member of the Citizens’ Rally against Oppression (RAMINBA),
Nigerian lawyer, author, and political activist. He is best known for his critical remarks on the corrupt system. He voices and writes to inspire and teach current and future generations.
Education
Dele holds a bachelor’s degree in law from Lagos State University before proceeding to law school.
After he graduated from law school, Dele was called to the Nigerian bar in 1999.
Career
As an undergraduate, Dele was elected President of the Student Union in the 1994/1995 academic session. This allowed him to implement his desire for social change on campus.
Later, he started his legal career as a counsel at Adesina Ogunlana & Co, Basa & partners and others.
He then proceeded to join K.O. Tinubu & Co, where he worked under notable legal persons like the late K. O. Tinubu, B. R. Fashola, SAN and Rasheed Oluwa.
After working for several firms, Dele established his legal firm, Dele Farotimi & Co, in 2002, now known as DF Legal.
Dele’s legal institution has paid close attention to detail. It takes a practical approach to meet the needs of our diverse clients, whether it is litigation or cross-border transaction support services.
His practice includes various areas, such as business litigation, alternative dispute resolution, intellectual property, real estate and property law, infrastructure and energy law, oil and gas, public-private partnerships, etc.
Over the years, it has also developed a strong clientele, including multinational corporations, mortgage and commercial banks, high-profile real estate development companies, infrastructure investors, and oil and gas operators.
In 2022, Dele was appointed as a member of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Official Spokespersons in support of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, in preparation for the 2023 general election.
Activism
Dele has been a staunch activist whose activism is based on speaking against the government’s oppression and advocating for the total overhaul of the Nigerian constitution and system of government.
Through his writings and voice, Dele has promoted a new Nigeria. He dreams of a nation free from mental slavery, where politicians act out of love rather than self-interest or financial gain.
He aims to see a nation where the rulers are transparent and accountable. A Nigeria that will take back her place at the forefront. Dele advocates for the emancipation of the populace from the tyrannical regime.
The primary goals of Dele’s writing are to enlighten, uplift, instruct, and educate the present and coming generations.
Marriage
There is no public information about Dele’s marriage.
Net worth
Newswire cannot independently verify Dele Farotimi’s net worth.
Achievements
Dele is the author of some books which mirror his philosophy and beliefs on social issues and politics.
One is “Do Not Die in Their Wars” which he released in 2019. In the book, Dele addressed the political trajectories of Nigeria. Also, he discussed the gravity of corruption in the system.
He published another book, “imperatives of the Nigerian Revolution,” in 2021.
His book ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published in 2024 generated lots of public reactions following his arrest by the Nigeria police following a petition by legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN.
Controversy
In a press conference on February 23, 2021, Dele raised the alarm about an alleged threat to his life.
He claims in the press conference that he was the target of an assassination plot by influential individuals in Lagos as a result of his remarks. He filed complaints with the DSS and the Lagos State Police Command regarding the plot against him.
Dele claims that advocating for the Lekki Toll Gate plaza to stay open throughout the investigation was the reason for the threat to his life.
Police arrest
Few hours after Dele Farotimi warned that “They Want to Silence” me in a statement he published on his X page on December 3, 2025, he was arrested by the Nigeria police.
The arrest however followed a petition by Aare Afe Babalola who claimed Dele Farotimi libelled him in his book, ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’.
The arrest generated lots of reactions from lawyers, politicians and general populace with divergent opinions. Some claimed he ought not to have been arrested because libel is a civil offence and not a crime, while others argued otherwise.
There was also the issue of whether the police which were deployed from Ekiti state has the juridiction to arrest Dele Farotimi for an offence allegedly committed in Lagos where Dele resides and published the book.
What Dele Farotimi wrote about Afe Babalola in his book ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’
Dele Farotimi’s accusation stems from a Supreme Court judgment involving a land dispute that spanned over two decades.
In a petition dated November 19 and addressed to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola detailed how his law firm discovered Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System and the defamatory contents therein.
“I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors,” the petition read.
He claimed the book contained several defamatory statements that questioned his integrity and accused his law firm of unethical practices, including corrupting the judiciary.
He added, “Sometime on 2/11/2024, one of our lawyers while travelling through Murtala Muhammed Airport bought a book by Dele Farotimi titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers. He read the said book and immediately brought it to my attention. Many of my lawyers also bought the said book and read same.”
Babalola stated that the book accused him of “corrupting the Supreme Court from ages past and had led it to commit the most egregious acts of evil and wanting injustice.”
The petition noted, “The said defamatory statements are detailed below:
“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client”.
“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation”. See page X
“That Afe Babalola libeled me and the fact of the libel became known to me in a suit against Lawal Pedro SAN”.
“That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and he leveraged his influence in the Judiciary to deny me justice”
Giving a background of the case, the petition stated that the case concerned 254 hectares of land in Lagos, which the Supreme Court awarded to his client in 2013.
He further alleged that Farotimi’s comments in the book suggested that he and his law firm compromised the judiciary, tarnishing the integrity of the apex court.
According to the petition, Farotimi’s statements, which were also highlighted in media interviews and widely circulated online, were designed to damage his reputation, discredit his law firm, and cause clients to lose trust in his professional ethics.
“All these statements are false and incorrect written deliberately to destroy my reputation. Dele Farotimi referred to me severally in his book as the Doyen of the legal profession,” Babalola said.
According to the petition, the controversy originated from the Supreme Court judgment on July 13, 2013, which ruled in favour of Babalola’s client, the Gbadamosi Eletu family.
The case involved land acquired by the Lagos State Government but later contested by the Ojomu family, who sold the land to Babalola’s client decades earlier.
Babalola’s legal team successfully argued that the Ojomu family acted in bad faith by attempting to reclaim the land after its sale.
However, the judgment sparked litigation from estates affected by the ruling, including Pinnock Estate, NICON Estate, and others.
Babalola said that Farotimi, as counsel to one of these estates, criticised the judgment in his book and accused Babalola of unethical conduct.
Disclaimer
The information in this article was curated from online sources. NewsWireNGR or its editorial team cannot independently verify all details.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for Live and Entertaining Updates.
Always visit NewsWireNGR for the latest Naija news and updated Naija breaking news.
NewsWireNGRLatest News in Nigeria
Send Us A Press Statement/News Tips on 9ja Happenings: [email protected].
Advertise With Us: [email protected]
