More Troubles For Right Activist, Farotimi As Another Lawyer Sues Him For N500M Over Allegations Of Judicial Corruption
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju has filed a N500 million lawsuit against lawyer and author Dele Farotimi Farotimi’s book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
According to court papers obtained, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and managing partner at Afe Babalola & Co, is suing lawyer and author Dele Farotimi for N500 million.
The suit no: FCT/HC/5372/2024 , filed at the High Court of the FCT in Abuja, accuses Farotimi of making “false, mischievous and defamatory” statements in his book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
Ogunwumiju, who was conferred with the rank of SAN in 2017 and the national honour of OFR in 2023, claims excerpts from Farotimi’s book depicted him and his law firm as unethical lawyers who bribe judges and manipulate the judicial system. The suit alleges the book, published in 2024, accuses Afe Babalola & Co of “compromising the integrity of the Supreme Court,” scheming with “crooked lawyers and incompetent justices,” and “doctoring” a Supreme Court judgment.
Beyond the monetary damages, Ogunwumiju is asking the court for an order compelling Farotimi to apologize in two national newspapers and halt further sales of the book, which is available in Nigeria and internationally on online platforms like Amazon. The senior lawyer says the book’s “false” claims have cost his firm clients and damaged his professional reputation.
“The words complained of are not only false, but also malicious, reckless and defamatory,” the court filings state. Ogunwumiju denies any wrongdoing and maintains he has never been involved in judicial corruption in his nearly two-decade legal career, which has included representing high-profile government and corporate clients.