Legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, has formally petitioned the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) seeking the removal of Lagos-based lawyer, Dele Farotimi, from the roll of legal practitioners in Nigeria. The petition, filed through Babalola’s law firm, accuses Farotimi of violating several provisions of the rules of professional conduct for lawyers.
The 90-page petition, signed by Ola Faro, a partner at Afe Babalola & Co., outlines allegations of misconduct stemming from Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System. The petition claims Farotimi made defamatory statements against the Nigerian judiciary, including Supreme Court justices, Lagos High Court judges, and members of Babalola’s law firm.
The petition details various breaches of professional conduct, including making false accusations against judicial officers, obstructing justice, and using offensive language towards the Supreme Court. It also accuses Farotimi of unethical practices, such as attempting to influence judicial decisions and making false statements regarding a case already decided by the Supreme Court.
Babalola’s law firm argues that Farotimi’s actions threaten the integrity of the legal profession and the judiciary. The petition calls for disciplinary action to preserve the dignity and standards of the Nigerian legal system.
The LPDC is the body responsible for investigating and addressing misconduct among Nigerian lawyers.
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