Crime

See Reasons Afe Babalola Law Firm Calls for Dele Farotimi’s Disbarment

Published by Tope Fakinlede on December 13th, 2024.

See Reasons Afe Babalola Law Firm Calls for Dele Farotimi’s Disbarment

Afe Babalola, Farotimi

The law firm of Afe Babalola has submitted a formal petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), seeking the disbarment of human rights advocate Dele Farotimi for alleged misconduct and unethical behavior. The 90-page petition, dated December 6, 2024, was signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm.

The LPDC, established under the Legal Practitioners Act, is responsible for maintaining ethical standards within Nigeria’s legal profession. Faro clarified that his petition was submitted both in his personal capacity and on behalf of Afe Babalola & Co.

Farotimi, who is also an author, was criticized by Babalola and his legal team for statements made in his book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which they claim defamatory and false. In the petition, Afe Babalola’s firm accused Farotimi of unethical behavior, including criminal defamation of the firm and Babalola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The law firm alleges that Farotimi’s conduct in the book has tarnished the reputation of the Nigerian judiciary and its judges, particularly the Supreme Court. According to the petition, Farotimi’s claims were both misleading and damaging, not only to the judiciary but also to the firm’s professional standing and financial reputation. The law firm further contends that Farotimi made baseless allegations of judicial corruption, including claims of bribing judicial officers and improperly influencing legal outcomes.

Other accusations include:

Making false statements of law regarding a Supreme Court case;

Engaging in conduct that obstructed justice and undermined the rule of law;

Using derogatory language to describe the Supreme Court and its justices;

Disrespecting fellow lawyers and causing disruptions in the legal process to benefit his clients.

Additionally, Farotimi was accused of violating ethical standards by discussing an ongoing case with a judge in the absence of opposing counsel, an action that undermines the integrity of legal proceedings.

Farotimi’s Legal Troubles

On December 3, 2024, Farotimi was arrested by police officers from the Ekiti State Command on charges of defamation and cyberbullying. He is currently facing multiple legal challenges, including two separate trials in Ekiti for allegedly defaming Afe Babalola.

In the ongoing federal trial, Farotimi was granted bail on December 9, 2024, by the Federal High Court in Ekiti, where he was charged with 12 counts related to cybercrime, including defamation. His bail was set at N50 million, with one surety. However, a magistrate court in Ekiti deferred ruling on another bail application until December 20, 2024, and Farotimi remains in custody at the Ekiti prison.

The legal proceedings and the petition to the LPDC are continuing, as Farotimi’s professional conduct comes under intense scrutiny.