Aare Afe Babalola, the founder and chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has decided to drop all criminal charges against human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, following the intervention of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Babalola made the announcement on Sunday, acknowledging the intervention of the Ooni and other influential traditional rulers in Nigeria.

Farotimi, who had written the book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,” accused Babalola of corrupting the judiciary.

In response, Babalola emphasized his respect for the Yoruba traditional institutions and their authority, stating that the commands of the Obas are long-standing and must be followed.

During a press conference, Babalola expressed his deep frustration over the accusations, recalling his past efforts in rejecting an oil block and defending the EFCC law, as well as turning down ministerial nominations twice.

He questioned why anyone would seek to undermine his life’s work.

He also made it clear that he held no personal gain in Farotimi’s imprisonment, and he was always content when able to give to others.

The Ooni had earlier appealed to Babalola to consider the influence of the traditional rulers involved and to make peace.

The monarch praised Babalola’s significant contributions to the development of the Yoruba people, Nigeria, and the world.

“We all came together to speak with him, and he gave due respect to the Obas, ultimately agreeing to the resolution,” said the Ooni.

“We, the Obas, can attest to Aare Babalola’s hard work and how he built his reputation, one that cannot be tarnished or destroyed by anyone. He has shown the world how much he values his name.”

The Ooni added, “Dele Farotimi is your son, and as elders, we forgive our children after a reprimand.”

While Babalola’s decision to drop the charges was confirmed, some of the lawyers named in Farotimi’s book, including those who were allegedly defamed, have indicated they may continue their legal actions.

These lawyers plan to meet later to discuss the next steps and issue a joint statement regarding their future course of action.

The Body of Benchers, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, has confirmed 15 distinguished legal professionals, including Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and renowned human rights lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome, as life members of the prestigious body.

The confirmation was announced on Thursday, January 23, 2025, during a meeting held at the Body of Benchers’ headquarters in Abuja.

In addition to Bamidele and Ozekhome, other legal luminaries confirmed as life benchers include Prof. Isa Chiroma, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School; Justice Sidi Bage, Emir of Lafia; retired Supreme Court Justice Ejembi Eko; and Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons in Africa.

This brings the total number of life benchers in Nigeria to 170, with a cap on new admissions for the next five years.

The prestigious elevation of these legal professionals is a recognition of their immense contributions to the legal profession and their unwavering commitment to the integrity and excellence of the judiciary in Nigeria.

The Body of Benchers, as the highest regulatory body of legal practitioners in the country, bestows life membership as a mark of distinction for outstanding service to the legal field.

Senator Bamidele, who was first appointed to the Body of Benchers as a Bencher in November 2019, is also known for his significant impact as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. Under his leadership, the committee initiated several reforms that enhanced the judiciary’s welfare and operational capacity.

His tenure saw improvements in the working conditions of judicial officers through increased funding, as well as the passage of a bill raising the retirement age for judicial officers from 65 to 70, which was later assented to by the executive.

A statement from the Senate Leader’s office further highlighted Bamidele’s extensive qualifications and service record. Bamidele, called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992, is a member of several prestigious legal associations, including the Nigerian Bar Association, American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, and International Bar Association.

He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria) and the Chartered Institute of Management Consultants, among other professional organizations.

Bamidele has served in various public service roles, including as Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development under Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and as Commissioner for Information & Strategy under Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

His experience in the legislative sector includes serving as the Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Research and Budget in the seventh National Assembly.

Bamidele’s academic background is equally distinguished, having earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1986, followed by a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Benin in 1990.

He later completed a Master of Laws degree at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire, specializing in Intellectual Property Law, including International Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Law.

The death toll from a mining explosion in Sabon Pegi, Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State has risen to 25, with several other people sustaining injuries.

The blast occurred on Sunday, following a previous explosion just a week ago on the Dikko-Maje-Minna road, where a fuel tanker exploded.

In addition to the confirmed fatalities, many individuals, including women and children, are still missing, and local residents are continuing to search for bodies.

Some victims are believed to be trapped under rubble from the explosion, which also destroyed several residential buildings and shops in the area.

While the cause of the explosion is still under investigation, sources suggest that explosives used for mining at the site were improperly stored in a nearby shop.

It is suspected that these explosives, stored by a man identified as Yushau from New Bussa, detonated, leading to the deadly explosion. Yushau is currently at large, and authorities have launched a manhunt to locate him.

A local resident named Ahmed shared his account of the incident, noting that the explosion happened just as miners were starting their work for the day.

He added that villagers are fearful of further explosions, with concerns that more explosives could still detonate in the area.

While there have been terrorist activities in the region, Ahmed believes this explosion was likely caused by mishandling of explosives used for mining.

The Niger State Police, in a statement from Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that dynamite caused the explosion.

The police statement detailed that the dynamites were stored in a residential home by Yushau, who intended to use them for mining purposes.

The explosion claimed the life of one woman, Fatima Sadauki, while six others were injured and taken to the General Hospital in Kainji for treatment.

The explosion affected about twelve homes in the area.

Niger State’s Police Commissioner, Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, has ordered an investigation into the explosion.

Efforts to locate the fugitive suspect, Yushau, are ongoing, and while normalcy has been restored in the area, authorities continue to monitor the situation to prevent further incidents.

A devastating flood has submerged thousands of hectares of farmlands in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, causing extensive damage to rice farming.

The flood has displaced hundreds of farmers and destroyed agricultural investments valued in millions of naira.

During a visit by a state government delegation led by Deputy Chief of Staff, Princess Bukola Babalola, the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Halidu Yahya Ndanusa, expressed deep concern over the incident, which he said posed a serious threat to food security.

He called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the unusual flood, emphasizing that the Sahel region, including areas like Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, had experienced no rainfall, making the flood’s origin particularly puzzling.

The Emir noted that, while Kainji Dam had denied responsibility for the floodwaters, officials from Jebba Dam acknowledged the possibility of their involvement and mentioned plans to close the dam soon.

He further expressed his hope that such an incident would not occur again in the future, as it jeopardizes years of hard work in attracting farmers to the region.

Community leader, Muhammad Abdulkadir, revealed that farmers from various northern states, including Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger, had lost millions of naira in rice crops to the flooding.

He stressed the need for government assistance and suggested that a permanent solution, such as dredging the River Niger, should be explored to prevent recurring flooding in the region.

In her address, Princess Babalola assured the affected farmers that the state government would provide support to alleviate the effects of the flood on their livelihoods.

She promised that the complaints of the farmers would be conveyed to the Governor, and efforts would be made to find a lasting solution to the flooding problem.

The delegation also distributed relief materials worth millions of naira to the affected farmers in the Tada community.

The state government pledged to further investigate the cause of the flood and provide continuous assistance to the farming community in the affected area.