The legal firm of Afe Babalola & Co. has filed a petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking the disbarment of Lagos-based lawyer Dele Farotimi.
The firm accuses Farotimi of breaching multiple provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers.
Dated December 6, 2024, the 90-page petition was signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm and a subject of Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.
The petition, titled Petition Against Tomilola Titus Farotimi (Also Known as Dele Farotimi, Esq), details allegations of professional misconduct. It accuses Farotimi of making unfounded corruption allegations against senior legal practitioners, justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Lagos State High Court, and Afe Babalola’s firm.
Faro, signing the petition in both his personal capacity and on behalf of the firm, outlined Farotimi’s alleged contraventions, including: Making false accusations against the judiciary and legal profession.
Participating in conduct he allegedly knew to be unlawful, including bribery and improper access to judicial officers.
Assisting clients in illegal activities and making misleading statements of law and fact.
Disrespecting fellow lawyers, the judiciary, and the Supreme Court by using offensive language and obstructing the administration of justice.
The petitioners argue that Farotimi’s conduct undermines the legal profession, discredits the judiciary, and threatens public confidence in the justice system.
“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,” the petition reads.
The petitioners also claim that statements made in Farotimi’s book could harm the judiciary’s reputation and destabilize society by inciting distrust in the legal system.
The LPDC is the regulatory body responsible for investigating and addressing misconduct among lawyers in Nigeria. It has the authority to recommend that a lawyer’s name be struck off the roll of legal practitioners maintained by the Supreme Court. However, such decisions are subject to appeal.