LPDC Decision: Afe Babalola’s Request to Debar Dele Farotimi Denied

LPDC Refuses Afe Babalola’s Call to Debar Dele Farotimi: Key Highlights

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition from Emmanuel Chambers, the law firm of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), seeking to disbar lawyer and author Dele Farotimi over allegations of criminal defamation and professional misconduct.

The petition, filed by Ola Faro of Emmanuel Chambers, accused Farotimi of making defamatory statements against the Supreme Court and the legal profession in his book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.

The firm alleged that Farotimi’s conduct was unbecoming of a legal practitioner, citing his criticisms of a Supreme Court judgment and his portrayal of subsequent legal proceedings as undermining the apex court’s decision.

In its report (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), the LPDC, chaired by Justice Isaq Usman Bello, concluded that the alleged offenses occurred in Farotimi’s capacity as an author, not during his practice as a legal professional.

The committee stated it lacked jurisdiction over complaints related to publications and advised the aggrieved parties to seek redress through regular courts.

The report noted, “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.”

Meanwhile, Farotimi was released from the correctional center in Ekiti State on Tuesday morning after meeting his bail conditions.

On December 9, the Federal High Court in Ekiti granted him N50 million bail with one surety, following a 12-count charge bordering on cybercrime filed by the Inspector-General of Police.