“Disbar Dele Farotimi”, Afe Babalola’s law firm tells LPDC

Afe Babalola’s legal practice has requested that Dele Farotimi, a human rights advocate, be disbarred by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

According to report, this report is due to suspected unethical behavior.

On December 6, 2024, the firm drafted a 90-page petition, which was signed by one of its partners, Ola Faro.

The Legal Practitioners Act created the LPDC, a committee tasked with maintaining moral principles in the legal industry.

In his personal capacity, Faro wrote the petition “and for and on behalf of the law firm of Afe Babalola & Co”.

He informed the LPDC of this.

Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”, also made reference to the attorney.

A top Nigerian advocate named Babalola and a few attorneys from his firm had claimed that Farotimi had “criminally” defamed them in his book.

Accusing Farotimi of “conduct which is unbecoming of a legal practitioner by making false accusations against the Supreme Court and the legal profession”, the firm filed the petition.

According to the chamber, Farotimi’s book damaged the reputation of Nigerian judges and the judiciary.

According to the petitioner, the book also damaged the company’s well-earned financial credit and reputation.

The petition reads: “The respondent 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”, it added.

Dele Farotimi trials

Officers from the Ekiti police command detained Farotimi in Lagos on December 3 on charges of cyberbullying and defamation.

The accused is presently on trial in two courts on allegations that they defamed Babalola.

Farotimi was charged with 12 counts of cybercrime by the inspector general of police, and a federal high court in Ekiti granted him N50 million bail with one surety on Monday.

But on Tuesday, an Ekiti magistrate court postponed making a decision on Farotimi’s bail request until December 20.

In a prison in Ekiti, the activist is presently on remand.

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