In an extreme measure to exterminate the enemy with no trace that it ever existed, Chief Afe Babalola has submitted a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee seeking the removal of Dele Farotimi from the roll of Nigerian legal practitioners.
This is in addition to the deluge of suits filed against Barr Dele Farotimi by associates of Chief Afe Babalola in support of the substantive case of criminal defamation filed by the senior lawyer and elder stateman.
For instance, associates of Chief Babalola already obtained injunctions from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja and Oyo State High Court barring Farotimi from further publishing, selling, circulating, advertising, or distributing the hard or soft copies of his book.
In the 90-page petition, Chief Babalola alleged that Farotimi violated various provisions of the rules of professional conduct by lawyers.
Dated December 6, 2024, the title of the petition is: “Petition against Tomilola Titus Farotimi (also known as Dele Farotimi esq), a Nigerian lawyer called to the Nigerian bar with his name on the roll of legal practitioners kept by the Supreme Court for violation of the extant Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners Rules 1, 15(1), 15(2b), 15(3a), 15(3g), 15(3i), 15(3j), 26(1), 27(1), 30, 31(1), (2) and (4) of the Rules of Professional Conduct 2023 by bringing the entire judiciary in Nigeria into disrepute with his unfounded allegations of corruption against eminent justices of the supreme court of Nigeria, judges of high court of Lagos state, Aare Afe Babalola san, Olu Deramola, SAN, Ola Faro esq, and the entire chambers of Afe Babalola & co in his book titled ‘Nigeria and its criminal justice system.”
The petition contains a litany of accusations against Farotimi and was signed by Ola Faro, a partner at the firm, and who was also referenced in the book titled, “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System.”
Some of the accusations against Mr. Farotimi, as detailed in the petition include the following:
“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. He knowingly made a false statement of law and facts with respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court.
“He assisted his clients in a conduct that he knows to be illegal and fraudulent. Knowingly engaged in illegal conduct in the cause of his practice as a legal practitioner. Treated his fellow lawyers without respect, fairness, consideration and dignity, allowing ill feelings between opposing clients to influence his conduct and demeanour by distorting the facts of a case in the cause of his practice as a legal practitioner.
“Failed to observe good faith and fairness in dealing with other lawyers in respect to a case already decided by the Supreme Court. Conducted himself in a manner that obstructed, delayed and adversely affected the administration of justice by taking steps to frustrate a decision of the Supreme Court for his personal benefit and the benefit of his client who lost at the Supreme Court.
“Treated the court, particularly the Supreme Court without respect, dignity and honour by using uncouth, unprofessional, undignified and offensive language against the Supreme Court and the justices of the Supreme Court. Made defamatory statements against judicial officers rather than making a complaint to appropriate authorities.
Mr. Faro also alleged in the petition that Mr. Farotimi “Indicated that he discussed a pending case with a judge trying the case in the absence of an opposing lawyer. The contravention of these rules by the Respondent (Farotimi) prompted this petition to protect the dignity of the legal profession, the dignity of the court as the temple of justice and to uphold the standards of the legal profession.”
These actions follow the publication of the book titled, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, which Chief Afe Babalola alleged contained sections that defamed him, following which he sued Farotimi.
Subsequently, Farotimi was arrested and arraigned before the Federal High Court in Ekiti State as well as an Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court, Ado-Ekiti.
