Afe Babalola wants Dele Farotimi disbarred as a lawyer

The law firm of Afe Babalola has submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee seeking the removal of Dele Farotimi, a lawyer and human rights activist, from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners.

The petition, dated December 6, 2024, and signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm, alleges that Farotimi violated certain provisions of the rules of professional conduct for lawyers.

According to the petition, Farotimi engaged in conduct that was unbecoming of a legal practitioner by making false accusations against the Supreme Court and the legal profession. The petitioners further alleged that Farotimi participated in unlawful conduct, specifically by bribing judicial officers and gaining unlawful access to a judicial officer.

Faro stated, “He joined his clients in committing misconduct and breach of law with reference to judicial officers by having unlawful access to a judicial officer. He gave service to his client which he knows is capable of causing a breach of law and disrespect and corrupting a judicial officer.”

Faro also accused Farotimi of knowingly making false statements of law and facts with respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court.

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The petition was prompted by Farotimi’s book, “Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System,” which contains allegations of corruption against the Nigerian judiciary, including justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the High Court of Lagos State.

The book also references Afe Babalola and other senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs), accusing them of corrupting justices of the Supreme Court.

Farotimi has been arrested and arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ekiti State as well as an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court, Ado-Ekiti over the controversial book. The charges revolve around defamation and cyberbullying, based on a petition filed by Babalola, who alleged that Farotimi defamed him in his book.

The case has sparked widespread controversy, with many questioning the motives behind Babalola’s petition. Some have argued that the petition is an attempt to silence Farotimi and stifle free speech. Others have praised Babalola for taking a stand against what they see as Farotimi’s reckless and unsubstantiated allegations.

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