The esteemed legal practitioner, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has escalated his discontent towards Lagos-based attorney, Dele Farotimi, regarding the purported defamation of his reputation.
The distinguished elder statesman, via his legal firm, has submitted a formal petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), requesting the removal of Farotimi’s name from the roster of legal practitioners in Nigeria.
As reported by Channels Television, the petitioner asserts that Farotimi has allegedly breached specific provisions of the professional conduct rules governing lawyers.
A partner at Babalola’s law firm, Ola Faro, who is also referenced in Farotimi’s publication, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System,” has endorsed the 90-page petition dated December 6, 2024.
The petition is entitled “Petition against Tomilola Titus Farotimi, also known as Dele Farotimi Esq., a Nigerian attorney duly admitted to the Nigerian Bar, whose name appears on the official roll of legal practitioners maintained by the Supreme Court, for violations of existing rules of professional conduct, specifically rules 1, 15(1), 15(2B), 15(3A), 15(3G), 15(3I), 15(3J), 26(1), 27(1), 30, 31(1), (2), and (4) of the 2023 rules of professional conduct, arising from his baseless accusations of corruption against eminent justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, judges of the High Court of Lagos State, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, Olu Daramola SAN, Ola Faro Esq., and the entire chambers of Aare Afe Babalola & Co., as articulated in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.’”
Faro indicated that the petition was drafted both in his individual capacity and on behalf of the law firm of Afe Babalola & Co.
He provided a comprehensive overview of the case’s background and meticulously outlined the alleged infractions of the professional conduct rules attributed to the respondent, Farotimi.
The petitioner highlighted that 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 Farotimi “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 cause 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 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 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 Farotimi’s book are likely to set the legal profession and society ablaze and that those 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.
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC, is the regulatory body that investigates and addresses misconduct among Nigerian lawyers.
The LPDC ensures that legal practitioners adhere to ethical standards and professional conduct.
