LPDC dismiss petition to debar Dele Farotimi
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition to debar Dele Farotimi.
Recall that Chief Afe Babalola’s law firm, Emmanuel Chambers, applied to the LPDC to revoke the law practicing license of lawyer and author Tomilola Farotimi, popularly known as Dele Farotimi, over allegations of cr!minal defamation and professional misconduct.
The petition, submitted by Ola Faro, a lawyer with Emmanuel Chambers, accused Farotimi of making defamatory statements about the Supreme Court and the legal profession in his book ”Nigeria and Cr!minal Justice System.”
Farotimi’s book reportedly referenced suit number SC/146/2006, involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye and others, alleging c0rruption, brib3ry, and unethical practices within the judiciary and the legal community.
Emmanuel Chambers claimed the book distorted case facts, disrespected fellow lawyers, and obstructed justice for personal gain. The Chambers also cited vi0lations of multiple sections of the ”Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023” and requested that Farotimi’s name be struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
However, after investigations, the LPDC concluded that the alleged 0ffences occurred in Farotimi’s capacity as an author rather than in his role as a legal practitioner. Consequently, the committee ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the matter and advised aggrieved parties to pursue their grievances in regular courts.
LPDC Chairman, Justice Isaq Usman Bello, 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.”
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