Efforts To Disbar Farotimi At Legal Disciplinary Committee Fails

Efforts to disbar Dele Farotimi, embattled human rights lawyer, embroiled in a credibility tussle with legal luminary, Chief Afe Babalola, has hit the rocks.

The request to disbar Farotimi filed by one Mr. Ola Faro, a lawyer in Afe Babalola chambers has been turned down by The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

It bordered on alleged in a titled: “Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System”, written by Farotimi.

In Faro’s petition, he stated that Farotimi, referenced Suit No. SC/146/2006, between Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu and HRH Oba Tijani Akinloye and others, claiming corruption, bribery, and other unethical practices involving judicial officers and the legal community.

He accused Farotimi of distorting facts, disrespecting fellow lawyers, and engaging in actions that obstructed justice for personal gains.

The book, he held therefore, violated several sections of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2023 and requested that his name be struck off the Roll of Legal Practitioners.

READ ALSO: What God Told Me About This Journey –Dele Farotimi After Regaining Freedom

After evaluating the petition, the LPDC said it had no jurisdiction to adjudicate on it.

It made this submission through its Chairman, Justice Isaq Bello, who said that the petitioner’s request could not be granted for reason of jurisdictional limitations.

“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 disciplinary committee stated.

If efforts to disbar Farotimi had succeeded, it would have been a double jeopardy for the activist, who had been detained for the alleged defamation, since December 4.

He was released on Tuesday, to the relief of family and associates, after spending about three weeks in detention.

READ ALSO: Afe Babalola-Dele Farotimi’s Case Takes A New Turn

Before the move to disbar Farotimi, he had been arraigned twice, before the magistrates’ court in Ado-Ekiti and later the Federal High Court in Ekiti, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He has also made a statement reiterating his standpoint saying:

“It is not ever an easy journey when you are fighting evil, but some years back, before I started this work, God told me that the truth is enough.

“It is the only weapon with which you can slay the monster called Nigeria, which is the truth. In my war against the evil empire that we all lived in, I have never lied against anyone. If I don’t know, I will say I don’t know,” he said.