The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has rejected a petition from Chief Afe Babalola SAN’s law firm, Emmanuel Chambers, seeking to revoke the practicing license of lawyer and author Tomilola Titus Farotimi, popularly known as Dele Farotimi. The petition accused Farotimi of criminal defamation and professional misconduct stemming from statements made in his book, Nigeria and Criminal Justice System.
The petition, authored by Mr. Ola Faro of Emmanuel Chambers, alleged that Farotimi made defamatory claims against the Supreme Court and the legal profession. Specifically, it referenced his remarks concerning suit number SC/146/2006 between Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye and others, alleging corruption, bribery, and unethical practices within the judiciary and legal community.
ALSO READ [BREAKING] Dele Farotimi released from prison
The petition accused Farotimi of distorting case facts, disparaging legal practitioners, and obstructing justice for personal gain. It also highlighted grievances related to his comments on a Supreme Court judgment affecting multiple residential estates and subsequent legal proceedings that allegedly undermined the apex court’s decision.
Emmanuel Chambers argued that Farotimi’s book violated provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023 and sought to have his name struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
In its report (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), however, the LPDC dismissed the petition, stating that the allegations arose from Farotimi’s work as an author, not his conduct as a legal practitioner. The committee concluded that it lacked jurisdiction to address complaints related to publications and advised the petitioners to pursue legal action in the regular courts.
“The publication is an intellectual property and not a conduct or action committed while practising as a legal practitioner. All aggrieved parties who find the publication ‘defamatory’ should ventilate their grievances through the regular courts,” the report stated.
LPDC Chairman, Justice Isaq Usman Bello, reiterated the committee’s position, emphasizing that the petition could not be granted due to jurisdictional limitations.
