Court Restrains Further Sale, Publication Of Farotimi’s Book

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has issued an interim injunction preventing Lagos-based lawyer, Dele Farotimi, from publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing copies of the book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System”—whether in physical, digital, or soft copy formats—either personally or through his representatives.

The order, granted by Justice Peter Kekemeke, follows an ex parte application filed by the claimant, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and managing partner at Afe Babalola’s law firm.

The court’s ruling also applies to agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, re-publishers, re-sellers, and other entities, including Dele Farotimi Publishers, Amazon Online Bookstore, Rovingheights Bookstore, Booksellers Bookstore, Jazzhole Lagos Bookstore, Glendora Bookshop, Quintessence Lagos Bookstore, and Patabah Books Limited.

These parties are prohibited from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing copies of the book in any form—physical, digital, electronic, or via social media.

The injunction is effective pending the hearing of the motion for an interlocutory injunction, which was filed on December 6, 2024.

Additionally, the court ordered that all physical copies of the book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System” be seized wherever found, including at the aforementioned bookstores and Dele Farotimi Publishers, by the Nigerian Police Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.

This seizure is also to remain in effect until the motion for an interlocutory injunction is heard and determined.

The court further instructed the relevant security agencies to file an affidavit within 72 hours confirming their compliance with the seizure order.

In a related case, the Oyo State High Court issued a similar interim order preventing Farotimi or any party acting on his behalf from further printing copies of the book.

Justice Mufutau Adegbola granted this order on December 9, 2024, following an ex parte application by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adebayo Adenipekun, representing Afe Babalola’s law firm.

The motion for an interlocutory injunction in this case has been adjourned to January 7, 2025.