LPDC Rejects Afe Babalola’s Request To Disbar Dele Farotimi
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition from Chief Afe Babalola’s law firm, Emmanuel Chambers, seeking to revoke the practicing license of lawyer and author Tomilola Titus Farotimi, commonly known as Dele Farotimi. The request was based on allegations of criminal defamation and professional misconduct stemming from Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The petition, filed by Ola Faro, a lawyer at Emmanuel Chambers, accused Farotimi of making defamatory statements about the Supreme Court and the legal profession. It specifically referenced suit number SC/146/2006 involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye, alleging corruption, bribery, and unethical practices within the judiciary.
In its findings, the LPDC concluded that the alleged offenses occurred in Farotimi’s capacity as an author rather than during his legal practice. Consequently, the committee ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to address issues related to publications and advised those aggrieved to seek redress through regular courts.
LPDC Chairman Justice Isaq Usman Bello stated, “The publication is an intellectual property and not a conduct or action committed while practicing as a Legal Practitioner. All aggrieved parties who find the publication ‘defamatory’ should ventilate their grievances through the regular courts.”
Emmanuel Chambers had claimed that Farotimi’s book violated several sections of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023 and called for his disbarment. However, the LPDC’s report (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024) emphasized its jurisdictional limitations in matters concerning authorship and publication.
