The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered publishers to stop production and distribution of the book titled, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System” authored by embattled lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

The order, sought by legal icon Afe Babalola, also demanded the seizure of royalties and the blockage of Amazon and other online platforms stop distributing the book.

The order which was suit no: CV/5372/24, was filed by the Head of Mr Babalola’s chambers, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, was dated December 6, 2024.

The order stated, “A order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendant/respondent, whether acting by himself, his staff, employees, servants, privies, representatives, agents, publishers, distributors, sellers, re-publishers, re-sellers, or any other person however described including Amazon Online Bookstore, Rovingheights Bookstore, Booksellers bookstore, Jazzhole Lagos Bookstore, Glendora Bookshop, Quintessence Lagos Bookstore and Patabah Books Limited from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the physical/hard/digital/soft copies of the book authored by the defendant/respondent titled: “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,” online. An order of interlocutory injunction directing the seizure of all physical copies of the book authored by the defendant/respondent titled: “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System” wherever they may be.’’

The order for the seizure of Mr Farotimi’s book came after it reportedly became number one bestseller in global politics for international tech and retail giant Amazon, on Thursday.

The controversial book highlighted among others how Mr Babalola allegedly manipulated the judiciary to get favourable judgements for his clients.