Nigeria, Dec. 7 -- Dele Farotimi is no stranger to the discerning observer of Nigerian public discourse. The dark-bearded lawyer, renowned for his blend of sagacity and unflinching valour, is a figure who commands respect. Yet, I must confess that, like many others, I was oblivious to the existence of his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System. That is, until recently - thanks to none other than one of Nigeria's most illustrious Senior Advocates, Mr Afe Babalola.

It is difficult to imagine that this venerable legal titan intended to catapult Farotimi's work into the public limelight, let alone elevate it to the coveted status of an Amazon bestseller. Quite the contrary. One suspects that if Babalola had his way, every extant copy ...