In his newly released book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, legal analyst Dele Farotimi has leveled serious accusations against prominent Nigerian lawyer Afe Babalola, accusing him of contributing to the corruption within the country’s judiciary. Farotimi’s claims focus on a specific case he was involved in at the Supreme Court, where he alleges that Babalola used undue influence to secure favorable judgments. These allegations are part of a broader critique of systemic corruption in Nigeria’s legal system.
Farotimi specifically referenced the case of Major Muritala Gbadamosi & Ors v. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors, more commonly known as the Gbadamosi-Eletu case. In his book, Farotimi asserts that Babalola “corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgment in the service of his clients.” This claim is central to Farotimi’s argument that the Nigerian judiciary is compromised, and that such practices undermine the integrity of the legal system.
The book also delves into a particular incident where a legal firm allegedly doctored the Supreme Court judgment. Farotimi contends that the law firm of S. B. Joseph & Co. forged the original judgment, enabling them to procure two fraudulent warrants of execution. “S. B. Joseph & Co. procured two warrants to execute the said judgment by doctoring the original judgment of the Supreme Court,” Farotimi writes, further alleging that a Lagos judge unlawfully issued a warrant of execution based on this doctored judgment.
Farotimi’s allegations extend to a claim that Justice Atilade O, who was the Administrative Judge of the Lagos Judicial Division at the time, issued the fraudulent warrant. “Atilade O, Justice at the time and the Administrative Judge of the Lagos Judicial Division, unlawfully issued a warrant of execution based on the doctored judgment and without the enrolled order of the Supreme Court,” Farotimi writes, accusing the judiciary of complicity in the scheme.
However, Farotimi notes that the warrant was eventually quashed. According to the book, the fraudulent warrant was challenged and subsequently overturned. “Atilade, J quashed the fraudulently obtained warrant following an application of counsel in protest against same,” Farotimi explains, suggesting that the issue was only addressed due to the vigilance of legal practitioners who opposed the unlawful actions.
These incidents, along with other examples provided in the book, have led Farotimi to a grim conclusion about the state of Nigeria’s judiciary. Farotimi argues that the systemic corruption within the legal system prevents true justice from being served, a system that, according to him, has “sworn to uphold” justice but instead perpetuates its own failure. “The criminality and complicity of the country’s judiciary will not allow it to dispense true justice,” he concludes.
