The Law Firm of Afe Babalola has filed a 90-page petition with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee seeking the disbarment of prominent lawyer and human rights activist, Dele Farotimi, from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners.
Signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm, the petition accused Farotimi of multiple violations of the 2023 Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers.
These alleged breaches include making unfounded allegations of corruption against Supreme Court Justices, High Court Judges, and prominent legal figures, including Afe Babalola, SAN, and members of his firm, in Farotimi’s controversial book Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System.
The petition, dated December 6, 2024, claimed that Farotimi engaged in conduct unbecoming of a legal practitioner, such as defaming judicial officers, facilitating illegal activities, and disrespecting the judiciary.
Faro alleged that Farotimi knowingly made false statements about a case decided by the Supreme Court, obstructed justice, and treated fellow legal practitioners with disrespect.
The filing also referenced court rulings in Abuja and Oyo State that barred the further publication or distribution of Farotimi’s book due to its allegedly defamatory content.
The book accused senior lawyers, including Babalola, of bribing judicial officers, a claim that the petitioners argued has inflamed tensions within the legal profession and damaged reputations.
Farotimi’s legal troubles have escalated with his arrest and arraignment in Ekiti State on charges of defamation and cyberbullying, based on allegations that his book maligned Babalola and others.
He is currently remanded in custody as his legal battles continue. The petition aims to safeguard the integrity of the Nigerian legal profession, with Faro stating: “This petition is necessary to protect the dignity of the legal profession, preserve the sanctity of the judiciary, and uphold the high standards expected of legal practitioners.”
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