Global tech giant Amazon has listed Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System by Nigerian author and retired lawyer Dele Farotimi as the number one bestseller in global politics. This surge in demand follows Mr. Farotimi’s recent arrest, allegedly orchestrated by Afe Babalola, a 93-year-old senior lawyer and businessman mired in longstanding corruption allegations.
According to checks by Peoples Gazette, the book climbed to the top of Amazon’s charts on Thursday morning, following a wave of public interest starting Wednesday afternoon. It also triggered a rush to bookstores across Nigeria as citizens sought to understand its content.
Critique of Judicial Corruption
Farotimi’s book, published in July 2024, critiques systemic corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary and explicitly accuses Mr. Babalola of compromising the Supreme Court.
“Mr. Babalola compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had,” Mr. Farotimi writes, recounting a specific case where the senior lawyer allegedly influenced the court to “swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-abnegation.”
The book aligns with public suspicions that certain senior lawyers undermine Nigeria’s judicial system by bribing judges across various court levels. Although these claims have long circulated, Mr. Babalola has repeatedly denied involvement, despite criticisms from judicial figures about lawyers who use wealth and influence to erode the judiciary’s credibility.
Spike in Sales Amid Controversy
Initially, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System saw modest sales after its release. However, sales skyrocketed after armed policemen arrested Mr. Farotimi in Lagos on Tuesday. He was transported to Ado Ekiti, a city where Mr. Babalola wields considerable influence as the largest private employer.
On Wednesday, a judge in Ekiti ordered Mr. Farotimi’s detention, pending a bail hearing scheduled for December 10. According to police, the book “was likely to cause fear and alarm to the public or disturb the public peace,” as stated in the charge sheet reviewed by The Gazette.
Public Backlash and Global Attention
The arrest has ignited widespread outrage in Nigeria, with many decrying the use of state power to suppress dissent and free speech. Nigerians have flooded social media with demands for Mr. Farotimi’s immediate release while condemning Mr. Babalola, who is seen as one of the most influential private figures in Ekiti State.
The controversy surrounding Mr. Farotimi’s detention has drawn global attention to his book. Rarely do Nigerian-themed works achieve such international prominence, but Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System has now surpassed highly regarded titles like Why Nations Fail on Amazon’s bestseller list.
Judicial Integrity Under Scrutiny
Mr. Babalola, who has faced persistent accusations of manipulating judicial outcomes, has yet to respond directly to the claims in the book. His influence over Nigeria’s legal landscape has been a topic of heated debate, with allegations that his actions contribute to the judiciary’s declining public trust.
This case underscores the tension between freedom of expression and the entrenched interests of influential figures in Nigeria’s justice system. The outcome of Mr. Farotimi’s legal battle is expected to have far-reaching implications for accountability and transparency in the Nigerian judiciary.
