Kehinde Fajobi
The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed a petition from Chief Afe Babalola’s law firm, Emmanuel Chambers, seeking the revocation of lawyer and author Dele Farotimi’s practising licence.
The petition, submitted by lawyer Mr. Ola Faro, accused Farotimi of criminal defamation and professional misconduct due to alleged defamatory statements in his book Nigeria and the Criminal Justice System.
Also, the claim centred on Farotimi’s reference to a Supreme Court case, accusing judicial officers and the legal community of corruption and unethical practices.
The LPDC, chaired by Justice Isaq Usman Bello, ruled on Tuesday in Abuja that it could not grant the petition due to jurisdictional limits. Justice Bello explained that the offences were tied to Farotimi’s role as an author, not as a legal practitioner.
Emmanuel Chambers’ complaint highlighted specific grievances, including Farotimi’s references to a Supreme Court ruling involving residential estates and claims that subsequent legal actions undermined the Court’s decision.
The firm argued that the publication violated several provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023, and requested Farotimi be struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.
However, the LPDC concluded that it lacked the authority to address complaints related to publications. In its report (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), the committee advised that any defamation claims should be pursued in regular courts.
“The publication is an intellectual property and not a conduct or action committed while practising as a Legal Practitioner. All aggrieved parties who find the publication ‘defamatory’ should ventilate their grievances through the regular courts,” the LPDC stated.