Citing an Abuja Court Order, Glendora Bookshop Lagos Removes Farotimi's Book From its Shelves.

Following the recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which issued an injunction prohibiting the further production and distribution of "Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System," authored by human rights attorney Dele Farotimi, it has been reported that the Managing Director of Glendora Bookshop in Ikeja, Lagos State, has instructed the immediate withdrawal of all copies of the book from its shelves nationwide, according to Trustbase News. Staff members indicated that this action was taken in compliance with the court's order, which specifically restrains the ongoing production and distribution of the aforementioned book. The injunction stems from allegations of defamatory content within the book directed at the esteemed legal practitioner, Afe Babalola, SAN. A staff member who spoke to journalists on Wednesday confirmed the directive, stating, "The owner of Glendora Bookshop has instructed us to remove the book from the shelves immediately and return it to the publishers. As of now, all copies of the book have been taken off our shelves. In fact, we do not have any copies remaining in our store." The book has sparked considerable controversy due to its claims of judicial manipulation and has recently achieved global bestseller status in the politics category on the Amazon platform. Trustbase News previously reported that armed police officers apprehended Farotimi at his office in Lagos State on December 3 and transported him to Ekiti, over 300 kilometers away. The following day, he was brought before a Magistrate Court in Ado-Ekiti, facing charges of criminal defamation against the legal luminary Afe Babalola, SAN, as outlined in "Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System." The book alleges that Babalola engaged in judicial manipulation to obtain favorable rulings for his clients. These allegations have not only garnered significant public attention but have also placed the legal figure under scrutiny, with increasing criticism regarding his use of police resources to intimidate Farotimi. A court order was sought and secured by Afe Babalola, mandating an immediate cessation of all sales and distribution of the book, encompassing both physical and digital formats. In the legal case No. CV/5372/24, filed on December 6, 2024, by Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, who leads Afe Babalola’s law firm, the Plaintiff additionally requested an order to confiscate any royalties accrued from the book's sales. The court issued an interlocutory injunction prohibiting Farotimi and all related entities from continuing the distribution of the book.