Courts Halt Sale, Publication of Dele Farotimi’s Book

Legal tensions are escalating as Nigerian High Courts have intervened to stop the publication and distribution of Dele Farotimi’s controversial book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.”

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, under Justice Peter Kekemeke, has granted a sweeping injunction that effectively silences the book’s distribution. The ex parte application, filed by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Afe Babalola’s law firm, targets not just the author but a wide number of bookstores and online platforms.

The court’s order is unprecedented in its scope, prohibiting publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the book through any medium. Major bookstores including Amazon Online Bookstore, Rovingheights Bookstore, and Quintessence Lagos Bookstore have been explicitly named in the injunction.

The court has also ordered multiple security agencies, including the Police Force, State Security Service, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, to actively seize physical copies of the book anywhere they are found. These agencies have been further ordered to file compliance reports within just 72 hours of receiving the court’s directive.

Mirroring the Abuja court’s action, the Oyo State High Court, presided over by Justice Mufutau Adegbola, has issued an almost identical interim order. This ruling, sought by another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adebayo Adenipekun, further amplifies the legal pressure on Farotimi and his publishers.

Both courts have scheduled full hearings for January 7, 2025, promising further developments in this extraordinary legal battle. The rapid and coordinated legal action has sparked intense speculation about the book’s contents and the motivations behind these unprecedented restrictions.