Babalola had, through a petition, used the Nigerian police to arrest and remand human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
The King's College London in the United Kingdom has come under intense global pressure to cancel its Afe Babalola Centre for Transnational Education, named after legal luminary, Afe Babalola, and return his donation to the institution.
SaharaReporters learnt that international writers, human rights groups and Nigerians globally are mounting the pressure on the foremost UK College to act on Babalola's alleged abuse of powers.
Babalola had, through a petition, used the Nigerian police to arrest and remand human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.
SaharaReporters earlier exclusively reported that the King's College London was presently worried over its Afe Babalola Centre for Transnational Education, named after the Nigerian legal luminary, who is currently facing backlashes.
Top sources in the know of the matter had told SaharaReporters that the King's College London reached out to the Amnesty International, a global human rights organisation, for advisory on what to do.
"Afe Babalola gave them 10 million pounds to set up the center. So, the King's College was responding to public pressure from Nigerians all over the world to cancel the Afe Babalola’s Center for Transnational Education, following his role in arresting Dele Farotimi," one of the top sources had revealed.
"So there is panic at the King's College London over Afe Babalola's scandal with Farotimi. The College has contacted the Amnesty International to check for what to do," the source had revealed further.
Providing an update to SaharaReporters, the top source continued, "Apparently there is now global pressure to cancel Afe Babalola’s Center at the King's College and return his donation."
"There is pressure from international writers, human rights groups and Nigerians in the diaspora calling the King's College," he explained.
Established in 2023, the Afe Babalola Centre enables King's College London and its network of partners to provide young Africans with access to education and opportunities which they would otherwise not have.
SaharaReporters had on Wednesday reported that the Amnesty International, demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Farotimi, detained by the Nigeria Police Force in Ekiti State.
Amnesty International had said that in the Nigerian police custody, there is little hope of fair treatment and no transparency, adding that the police interrogation centers across the country are also notorious locations of possible violations.
The global human rights organisation had warned that the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government must end the escalation of clampdown on dissenting voices in the country and allow everyone in the country to freely exercise their fundamental rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution and international law.
In a short statement issued on its social media account, Amnesty International had said, “Dele Farotimi must be immediately and unconditionally released. In custody of Nigeria Police, there is little hope of fair treatment and no transparency.
“Police Interrogation centers are also notorious locations of possible violations.
“President Bola Tinubu’s government must end this escalating clampdown on dissenting voices and allow everyone in the country to freely exercise their human rights as guaranteed by Nigeria’s constitution and international law.”
SaharaReporters also reported that the Ekiti State Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti denied bail to Farotimi, who is facing allegations of cybercrime.
Farotimi was arrested following a petition by a legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).
The charge suit no: MAD/1,476.C/2024, pits the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police as the complainant against Farotimi as the defendant.
Some of the charges had read, "That you Dele Farotimi 'm' sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System" which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you stated at page IX of the book: "That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients" which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace knowing or having reason to believe that the Statements is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 59(1) of Criminal Code Act.
"That you Dele Farotimi 'm' sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System" which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you stated at page X: "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 that Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self abnegation" which is likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace knowing or having reason to believe that the Statements is false and thereby committed an offence.
"That you Dele Farotimi 'm' sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you alleged in page X, 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 that Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self- Abnegation which statement you knew were false and likely to injure the reputation of the said Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb, LL.D.; Olu Daramola, SAN, FCIArb; Mr Ola Faro and the law firm of Afe Babalola & Co. by exposing them to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage them in their profession and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Act.
"That you Dele Farotimi 'm' sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally defamed the pe person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb in page IX, of the said book.
It said, "That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure allegations and clients are a fraudulent ju knew were faise likely judgement in the to injure the of the said Aare Ale Babel conten, OFR, Colure the reputation by exposing him to thereby committe ridicule and Carb. LL.D in his profession and Chennal Coumitted an offend damage him in section 373 of the Codenal Code Act and punishablontrary Section 375 of Criminal Act.
"That you Dele Farotimi 'm' sometimes in 2024 authored published and circul karotimi book titled: "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice Systericulated your booked and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti hicthin the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally dehimed the person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIALdam page, of the said book where you stated: "That I sued Afe Babalola SAN for libel and that he leveraged his influence in the judiciary to deny me justice" which statement you knew were false allegations and likely to injure the reputation of the said Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb, LL.D by exposing him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and damage him in his profession and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 373 of the Criminal Code Act and punishable under Section 375 of Criminal Code Act.
"That you Dele Farotimi 'm' sometimes in 2024 authored, published and circulated your book titled: "Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System which was received and read all over the world including Ado-Ekiti within the Ado-Ekiti Magisterial District wherein you criminally defamed the person of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, FCIArb in pages 10-11 of the said book."
The court also denied bail to Farotimi and adjourned till December 10, 2024.