The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) has dismissed the request from Afe Babalola’s law firm Emmanuel Chambers to revoke Dele Farotimi’s practising licence over allegations of criminal defamation and professional misconduct.
Babalola’s law firm claims Mr Farotimi defamed the senior lawyer and disrespected the Supreme Court in his book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
According to the petition by Emmanuel Chambers, Farotimi’s book reportedly referenced suit number SC/146/2006 between Major Muritala Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye and others, alleging corruption, bribery and other unethical practices involving judicial officers and the legal community.
The petition accused Farotimi of distorting case facts, disrespecting fellow lawyers and engaging in actions that obstructed justice for personal gain.
However, LPDC chairman Justice Isaq Bello said on Tuesday in Abuja that the petition could not be granted due to jurisdictional limitations.
The disciplinary committee, in its report (B8B/LPDC/1571/2024), concluded that the alleged offences occurred in Farotimi’s capacity as an author, not during his practice as a legal professional.
The LPDC determined that it lacked jurisdiction to address complaints about publications and advised aggrieved parties to seek redress in regular courts.
The report noted, “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.”
