Afe Babalola: Dele Farotimi’s Book Tops Global Bestseller List on Amazon After Controversial Arrest

Dele Farotimi’s explosive book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, has soared to the top of Amazon’s global bestseller list for political books, following his arrest over allegations of defamation by prominent Nigerian lawyer Afe Babalola.

The book, which critiques systemic corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary, gained unprecedented attention after armed policemen detained Mr. Farotimi in Lagos on Tuesday.

He was subsequently transported to Ado Ekiti, a city where Mr. Babalola, a 93-year-old legal luminary and businessman, wields significant influence.

Published in July 2024, the book initially struggled with low sales.

However, its popularity skyrocketed after the author’s arrest, with a surge in demand reported on Amazon and in bookstores across Nigeria.

The sudden interest pushed the book past internationally acclaimed works, such as Why Nations Fail, a rare feat for a Nigerian-themed publication.

In the book, Mr. Farotimi, a retired lawyer, offers a searing critique of the Nigerian judiciary, naming Mr. Babalola as a central figure in its corruption.

He alleged that the nonagenarian lawyer compromised the Supreme Court in a case that exposed the judiciary’s vulnerability to bribery and undue influence.

Mr. Farotimi’s arrest has been widely condemned by Nigerians, who see it as an attack on free speech and an attempt to silence dissent.

The police have accused the author of spreading material “likely to cause fear and alarm” and disrupting public peace.

A judge in Ekiti remanded Mr. Farotimi in custody on Wednesday, with a bail hearing scheduled for December 10.

The detention has sparked widespread outrage, with critics accusing Mr. Babalola of using his influence to suppress allegations of judicial misconduct.

Although Mr. Babalola has repeatedly denied such accusations, his name has often been linked to claims of judicial manipulation, a charge that has further fueled public skepticism about Nigeria’s legal system.

The controversy has not only revived interest in Mr. Farotimi’s work but also ignited a broader debate about corruption and accountability within the judiciary.

While calls for the author’s release grow louder, the book’s sudden global recognition underscores the power of public discourse in challenging entrenched systems of power.

What began as a defamation complaint has transformed into a global phenomenon, placing both Mr. Farotimi and his book at the center of a storm that raises pressing questions about justice and free expression in Nigeria.