The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition by Emmanuel Chambers, the law firm of legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola SAN, seeking the revocation of the law practising license of controversial lawyer and author Tomilola Titus Farotimi, popularly known as Dele Farotimi.
The petition, submitted by Mr. Ola Faro, a lawyer at Emmanuel Chambers, accused Farotimi of criminal defamation and professional misconduct stemming from statements made in his book, Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System.
The book reportedly made claims about corruption, bribery, and unethical practices within Nigeria’s judiciary and legal profession, specifically referencing Supreme Court case SC/146/2006 involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye and others.
The petition alleged that Farotimi distorted case facts, disrespected legal practitioners, and interfered with justice for personal gain.
Emmanuel Chambers argued that these actions violated the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023 and demanded that Farotimi’s name be struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
In its ruling (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), the LPDC stated that the allegations pertained to Farotimi’s role as an author rather than his capacity as a legal practitioner.
The committee concluded that it lacked jurisdiction over complaints related to published works and recommended that aggrieved parties pursue the matter in conventional courts.
The LPDC’s report stated: “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.”
LPDC Chairman, Justice Isaq Usman Bello, affirmed that the petition could not be granted due to jurisdictional limitations.