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Amazon, the global tech and retail giant, has made a Nigerian-themed book by Dele Farotimi its top bestseller in global politics.
This surge in popularity followed Farotimi’s recent arrest, which was reportedly ordered by Afe Babalola, a powerful Nigerian lawyer and businessman. Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, soared to the top spot on Amazon’s chart Thursday morning, after gaining attention the previous afternoon.
The rising demand for the book was also mirrored in Nigerian bookstores, where citizens eagerly sought out copies to understand its contents.
The surge in global interest came after Farotimi was detained following allegations brought by Babalola, a 93-year-old lawyer with a controversial reputation tied to corruption claims.
Rarely do Nigerian-themed books make it to Amazon’s bestseller list, yet Farotimi’s work managed to surpass even well-known titles like Why Nations Fail.
A retired lawyer based in Lagos, Farotimi used his book to sharply criticize corruption within the Nigerian judicial system, singling out Babalola as a key figure.
He accused Babalola of compromising the integrity of the Supreme Court, detailing a case where Babalola allegedly influenced judicial outcomes through bribery.
Published in July 2024, Farotimi’s book amplified suspicions that Babalola was among those corrupting Nigeria’s judiciary by bribing judges across various levels of the court system.
The book initially saw slow sales but gained significant attention after Farotimi was apprehended by police in Lagos on Tuesday and transported to Ado Ekiti, a city where Babalola is a prominent figure.
After being formally charged and arraigned, Farotimi was remanded in custody, with a bail hearing scheduled for December 10. The police cited concerns that the book could “cause fear and alarm to the public” as part of their charge.
Babalola, long criticized for his alleged influence over court decisions, has denied the corruption claims but has faced consistent accusations from judges and the public about the damaging effects of such practices on the judicial system.
The arrest has ignited widespread outrage in Nigeria, with citizens demanding Farotimi’s release and criticizing Babalola, who is seen as one of the most influential figures in Ekiti State.
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