By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Media Aide to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Lere Olayinka on Monday slammed the human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Femi Falana, saying the legal luninary must be looking for new clients.
Precise Post recalls that Falana on Monday, June 9, 2025, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, cautioned the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) against sealing embassies in Abuja over unpaid ground rents. He emphasized that such actions would violate both Nigerian constitutional provisions and international laws, particularly the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which protects the inviolability of diplomatic missions.
Falana stated that, “Embassies and missions cannot be invaded because they have not paid ground rent, which is not applicable for all of them.”
He further explained that even if a person commits an offense and seeks refuge within an embassy, law enforcement officers are prohibited from entering the premises to apprehend the individual. This principle underscores the sanctity of diplomatic missions under international law.
Further recall that Falana’s remarks were in response to recent actions by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), led by Minister Nyesom Wike, who had ordered the sealing of properties, including some embassies, over non-payment of ground rents.
However, reacting to the views canvassed by Falana, Olayinka who accused the former of looking for new client becauae he knows the provisions of Section 28, Subsections (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act, but he will pretend not to know, just as he was on Channels TV then, saying THREE lawmakers in a House of Assembly of 32 members can pass budget.
“Section 28, Subsections (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act provides that:
“The Government may revoke a Statutory Right of Occupancy on the ground of; (a) a breach of any of the provisions which a certificate of occupancy is by Section 10 deemed to contain; and (b) a breach of any term contained in the Certificate of Occupancy.”
Olayinka further advised anyone in the FCT owing Ground Rent or any levy associated with landed property to go and pay and not to let Femi Falana deceive them.
Shortly after this tweet by Olayinka, the X (formerly Twitter) has been buzzing with mixed reactions as follows:
@LoungeTanina says: “You’re talking about your local land use but you didn’t really understand that embassies and consulates and foreign missions are extensions of their country and by extension their sovereignty and any attempt to interfere with their (embassies) could even be a declaration of war.
@EmegzyOfficial says: “Do you understand what he meant by the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations???
Replying Olayinka, tweettmo says: “At least he isn’t jumping from one politician to another searching for an SSA media job. Same job you did years ago in your 30s; you’re still defending politicians for a living. Falana SAN is a household name in Nigeria, but the same can’t be said about you.”
@olowo_agboye1 says: “Baba Falana was just spewing nonsense yesterday night! Which Geneva convention says embassies and missions can owe rents on their apartment and nothing should happen because it’s an embassy? He even said it’s not justiciable? So an embassy can rent my apartment and refuse to pay and nothing would happen? In fact they can’t continue to occupy my property till eternity and I can’t even go to court? That Baba is already senile I can confirm! Isokuso lenu agbalagba.
