The arrest of activist lawyer and author Dele Farotimi has propelled his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, to the top of Amazon’s bestseller charts, surpassing high-profile works like Bob Woodward’s War and Hillary Clinton’s Something Lost, Something Gained.
The independently published book, released on July 2, 2024, offers a raw critique of Nigeria’s justice system. While it initially garnered modest attention, sales skyrocketed within 24 hours of Farotimi’s detention, placing it as the number one book in Amazon’s elections category.
Farotimi was arrested on Monday in Lagos by Ekiti State police officers and arraigned in Ado Ekiti on charges of defamation against legal luminary Afe Babalola. The case, involving 16 counts of alleged defamation, has drawn widespread public interest. Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun remanded Farotimi in custody and adjourned the matter to December 10.
In his petition to the police, dated November 9, Babalola claimed Farotimi’s book contained 31 defamatory statements accusing him of compromising the Supreme Court to secure fraudulent judgments. Babalola described the allegations as “a malicious assault on my character and reputation.”
The arrest triggered unprecedented public interest in the book, particularly among younger Nigerians. Roving Heights, a prominent Nigerian bookstore, reported overwhelming demand, saying their website crashed due to “unusual traffic.”
