Amazon has listed ‘Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System’, a book by Nigerian author Dele Farotimi, as a bestseller, following the author’s arrest after a petition filed by Afe Babalola, a controversial lawyer and businessman.
The book climbed to the top of Amazon’s rankings on Thursday morning, according to checks by Vanguard, after gaining traction the previous day.
A bestseller is a book or other product that sells in very large numbers.
The surge in demand on global platforms like Amazon mirrored a rush to bookstores across Nigeria, as citizens sought to uncover the book’s controversial content.
Farotimi’s arrest on Tuesday, reportedly on orders by Babalola, fueled interest in the book.
The 93-year-old senior lawyer alleged being accused in the book of compromising Nigeria’s judiciary.
The book, published in July 2024, critiques systemic corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary and highlights specific instances of alleged misconduct by prominent legal figures.
Although the book saw low sales initially, Farotimi’s arrest ignited public curiosity and propelled it to bestseller status.
The author was detained by armed policemen in Lagos on Tuesday and transported to Ado Ekiti, about 300 kilometers northeast of the city, where Babalola is a prominent figure.
Dele Farotimi was arraigned in Ekiti on Wednesday, with a judge ordering his remand pending a bail hearing on December 10.
