Legal Showdown: LPDC Rejects Efforts To Suspend Dele Farotimi’s Law License

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition filed by Emmanuel Chambers, the law firm of renowned legal icon Chief Afe Babalola SAN, seeking to revoke the law practicing license of lawyer and author, Tomilola Titus Farotimi, widely known as Dele Farotimi.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The petition, submitted by Mr. Ola Faro of Emmanuel Chambers, accused Farotimi of criminal defamation and professional misconduct based on claims made in his book, Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System. The book allegedly highlighted corruption, bribery, and unethical practices within Nigeria’s judiciary and legal profession, citing Supreme Court case SC/146/2006 involving Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye, among others.

The petition alleged that Farotimi misrepresented case facts, disrespected legal practitioners, and interfered with justice for personal advantage. It claimed these actions violated the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023 and sought to have Farotimi’s name removed from the Roll of Legal Practitioners.

However, in its decision (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), the LPDC ruled that the allegations were tied to Farotimi’s role as an author and not his practice as a lawyer. The committee determined it lacked jurisdiction over issues arising from published works and advised aggrieved parties to pursue legal remedies through conventional courts.

In its report, the LPDC stated: “The publication is an intellectual property and not an act committed while practicing as a Legal Practitioner. Aggrieved parties claiming defamation should seek redress through the regular courts.”

LPDC Chairman, Justice Isaq Usman Bello, emphasized that the petition could not proceed due to jurisdictional limitations.