The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) rejected a request by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) to debar Lagos lawyer and activist, Tomilola Titus Dele Farotimi, because his alleged offences occurred in his capacity as an author, not a lawyer.
In its report (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), the LPDC declared that the alleged offences did not occur during Farotimi’s practice as a legal professional.
The LPDC concluded that it lacked jurisdiction to address complaints about publications and advised aggrieved parties to seek redress in regular courts.
LPDC Chairman, Justice Isaq Usman Bello, affirmed that the petition could not be granted due to jurisdictional limitations.
Babalola’s law firm, Emmanuel Chambers, had urged LPDC to revoke the law practicing licence of Farotimi over allegations of criminal defamation and professional misconduct.
Farotimi was brought before the LPDC based on a petition authored by Mr. Ola Faro, a lawyer in Emmanuel Chambers. The petition alleged that Farotimi, in his book ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System’, made defamatory statements against the Supreme Court and the legal profession.
The book reportedly referenced suit number SC/146/2006 between Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu, HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye and others, claiming corruption, bribery, and other unethical practices involving judicial officers and the legal community.
The petition accused Farotimi of distorting case facts, disrespecting fellow lawyers, and engaging in actions that obstructed justice for personal gain.
Specific grievances included references to a Supreme Court judgement that affected multiple residential estates and subsequent legal proceedings undermining the apex court’s decision.
Emmanuel Chambers claimed that Farotimi’s book violated several sections of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023 and requested that his name be struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
The LPDC’s report stated: “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”.
