Mr. Afe Babalola, 95, has denied the allegations and has yet to comment on the leaked documents.
Abuja, Nigeria – A leaked U.S. government cable has exposed alleged bribery by renowned Nigerian lawyer transparency, who reportedly paid $1.125 million to five Court of Appeal judges to secure a favorable ruling for his client, former Adamawa Governor Boni Haruna, in the early 2000s.
The classified document, published by global transparency group Wikileaks, alleges that Mr. Babalola paid $225,000 to each judge on a panel led by Justice Pius Olayiwola Aderemi to overturn a tribunal judgment that had nullified Mr. Haruna’s election on grounds of malpractice. The cable also detailed claims by a senior lawyer on Mr. Babalola’s team, who admitted to delivering millions in untraceable naira notes to the appellate judges on his behalf.
According to the leaked cable, U.S. diplomats were alarmed by the stark discrepancies between the tribunal’s judgment that sacked Mr. Haruna and the Court of Appeal ruling that reinstated him. The document quoted a witness describing the process as typical of high-profile Nigerian cases, where cash payments allegedly influenced court outcomes.
“According to an attorney for Haruna, the outcome was ensured in typical Nigerian fashion: with cash,” the cable stated. It further alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo sent both Mr. Babalola and the funds needed to secure the appeal.
Background on Boni Haruna
Mr. Haruna, who served as governor of Adamawa State, later faced corruption charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after leaving office in 2008. The controversial appeal that restored his governorship has been a subject of scrutiny for years, now reignited by the Wikileaks revelations.
Response and Fallout
Mr. Babalola, 95, has denied the allegations and has yet to comment on the leaked documents. The accusations have further fueled public interest in the claims made by Nigerian rights lawyer Dele Farotimi in his recent book, which alleged that Mr. Babalola routinely secured judgments through bribery rather than legal merit.
Mr. Babalola has taken legal action against Mr. Farotimi for defamation, leading to the lawyer’s arrest and alleged mistreatment. On December 3, Mr. Farotimi was reportedly transported from Lagos to Ekiti State under harsh conditions, a move that has sparked outrage among Nigerians.
The controversy has catapulted Mr. Farotimi’s book into the spotlight, turning it into a bestseller on Amazon and selling out in popular bookstores across Nigeria. Supporters of the author have organized protests in cities including Abuja, Lagos, and Ekiti, as well as at King’s College London, which received a £10 million donation from Mr. Babalola in 2023. The protests aim to highlight the state of freedom of expression and justice under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Meanwhile, Mr. Babalola’s supporters have urged Mr. Farotimi to retract his allegations and issue an apology. However, the rights lawyer’s advocates insist that he should stand firm, especially after the alleged mistreatment he has endured.
Join our Channel...