The law firm of Afe Babalola has petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, seeking to strike out the name of embattled Lagos-based legal practitioner, Dele Farotimi, from the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria.
LPDC is the regulatory body that investigates and addresses misconduct among Nigerian lawyers.
The firm accused Mr Farotimi of allegedly violating certain provisions of the rules of professional conduct for lawyers.
According to Channels TV report, the 90-page petition dated December 6, 2024, was signed by a partner in the law firm, Ola Faro, premising the petition on Mr Farotimi’s book, ‘Nigeria and its criminal justice system’.
The petition is titled: “Petition against Tomilola Titus Farotimi (also known as Dele Farotimi esq), a Nigerian lawyer called to the Nigerian bar with his name on the roll of legal practitioners kept by the Supreme Court for violation of the extant Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners Rules 1, 15[1], 15[2, 15[3a], 15[3g], 15[3i], 15[3j], 26[1], 27[1], 30, 31[1], [2] and [4] of the Rules of Professional Conduct 2023 by bringing the entire judiciary in Nigeria into disrepute with his unfounded allegations of corruption against eminent justices of the supreme court of Nigeria, judges of high court of Lagos state, Aare Afe Babalola san, Olu Deramola, SAN, Ola Faro esq, and the entire chambers of Afe Babalola & co in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its criminal justice system.”
Mr Faro, who clarified that he was writing both in his personal capacity and “on behalf of the law firm of Afe Babalola & Co.,” outlined the background of the case and detailed the alleged violations of the Rules of Professional Conduct by the lawyer.
According to the petitioners, Mr Farotimi, “engaged in conduct which is unbecoming of a legal practitioner by making false accusations against the Supreme Court and the legal profession.”
The petitioners also stated that the lawyer, “participated in conduct that he believes to be unlawful by bribing judicial officers and having unlawful access to a judicial officer”.
“Joined his clients in committing misconduct and breach of law with reference to judicial officers by having unlawful access to a judicial officer.
“Gave service to his client, which he knows is capable of causing a breach of law and disrespect and corrupting a judicial officer.
“Knowingly made false statements of law and facts in respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court.
“Assisted his clients in a conduct that he knows to be illegal and fraudulent.”
“Knowingly engaged in illegal conduct in the course of his practice as a legal practitioner.
“Treated his fellow lawyers without respect, fairness, consideration, and dignity, allowing ill feeling between opposing clients to influence his conduct and demeanour by distorting the facts of a case in the cause of his practice as a legal practitioner.
“Failed to observe good faith and fairness in dealing with other lawyers in respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court.
“Conducted himself in a manner that obstructed, delayed, and adversely affected the administration of justice by taking steps to frustrate a decision of the Supreme Court for his personal benefit and the benefit of his client, who lost at the Supreme Court.
“Treated the court, particularly the Supreme Court, without respect, dignity, and honour by using uncouth, unprofessional, undignified, and offensive language against the Supreme Court and the justices of the Supreme Court.
“Made defamatory statements against judicial officers rather than making a complaint to appropriate authorities.
“Indicated that he discussed a pending case with a judge trying the case in the absence of an opposing lawyer.”
The petitioners further stated that, “the contravention of these rules by the Respondent [Farotimi] prompted this petition to protect the dignity of the legal profession, the dignity of the court as the temple of justice and to uphold the standards of the legal profession.”
They also noted that some of the statements made in Mr Farotimi’s book are likely to set the legal profession and society ablaze and that these statements were made to discredit the entire Nigerian judiciary, Justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the High Court of Lagos State, their law firm, and to ridicule them within the legal profession and injure their hard-earned reputation and financial credit.
