The Federal Capital Territory’s High Court in Abuja issued an order of interim injunction prohibiting Lagos-based attorney Dele Farotimi, acting alone or through his agents, from publishing, selling, distributing, or advertising the book “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System” in hard copy, digital, or soft copy.
After hearing the claimant’s ex parte plea, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Kehinde Ogunwumiju, managing partner at Afe Babalola’s legal practice, Justice Peter Kekemeke issued the order.
Additionally, the judge temporarily barred the agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, re-publishers, re-sellers, and any other individual as described. This includes Dele Farotimi Publishers, Amazon Online Bookshop, Rovingheights Bookshop, Booksellers Bookshop, Jazzhole Lagos Bookshop, Glendora Bookshop, Quintessence Lagos Bookshop, and Patabah Books Limited from publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the book’s hard copy, digital, or soft copy in any way, including through social media.
The court issued the ruling while the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, which was submitted on December 6, 2024, was being heard and decided.
The court also issued an order of interim injunction directing the Nigerian Police Force, State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, and all other security agencies to seize all physical copies of the defendant’s book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,” wherever they may be located, including at Dele Farotimi Publishers, Rovingheights Bookshop, Booksellers Bookshop, Jazzhole Lagos Bookshop, Glendora Bookshop, Quintessence Lagos Bookshop, and Patabah Books Limited worldwide, while the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction dated and filed on December 6, 2024, is heard and decided.
The Court further mandated that, within 72 hours of receiving the order, the pertinent security agencies listed in the second relief submit an affidavit attesting to their compliance with the Court’s directives.
In a related move, the Oyo State High Court issued an interim order prohibiting Farotimi or anybody acting on his behalf from printing the book “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System” any further.
Adebayo Adenipekun, a senior partner in the law practice of Afe Babalola, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, petitioned the court on the firm’s behalf in an ex parte application dated December 9, and Justice Mufutau Adegbola granted the interim order.
Judge Adegbola issued the decision in the meantime and ordered the other party to be placed on notice after hearing from Chukwudi Maduka, Esq., who represented the senior attorney.
After that, the move-on notice for an interlocutory injunction was postponed until January 7, 2025.
