Decision Taken On Afe Babalola’s Request To Debar Farotimi

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a request from Chief Afe Babalola SAN’s law firm, Emmanuel Chambers, to revoke the law license of lawyer and author Tomilola Farotimi, also known as Dele Farotimi.

The petition, which accused Farotimi of criminal defamation and professional misconduct, was based on allegations related to his book “Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System.”

The petition, filed by Ola Faro, a lawyer at Emmanuel Chambers, claimed that Farotimi made defamatory remarks about the Supreme Court and the legal profession in his book.

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However, the LPDC concluded that the alleged offenses were committed in Farotimi’s capacity as an author rather than in his role as a legal practitioner.

In its ruling, the LPDC stated that it lacked jurisdiction to handle complaints concerning publications and suggested that aggrieved parties should pursue legal action in regular courts instead. The LPDC Chairman, Justice Isaq Usman Bello, affirmed that the petition could not be granted due to these jurisdictional constraints.

The book in question referenced a lawsuit, SC/146/2006, involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye, which accused judicial officers and the legal community of corruption and unethical conduct.

Emmanuel Chambers’ petition alleged that Farotimi had distorted case facts, disrespected fellow lawyers, and engaged in actions that hindered justice for personal gain.

They specifically cited Farotimi’s references to a Supreme Court judgment affecting multiple residential estates, which they claimed undermined the apex court’s decision.

The Chambers also argued that Farotimi’s actions violated several provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023 and sought to have his name removed from the Roll of Legal Practitioners.