TheNewsGuru

Tag: Falana

  • Falana urges IGP to arrest, prosecute police officers who brutalised NLC President

    Falana urges IGP to arrest, prosecute police officers who brutalised NLC President

    Senior lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana, has called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, to arrest and prosecute  police officers who allegedly brutalised the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero in Owerri on Wednesday.

    Falana made his remark while reacting to the statement released by the police on Ajaero’s arrest.

    Recall that the police had denied arresting the NLC president during the union’s rally in Owerri, Imo State on Wednesday.

    It explained that Ajaero was only whisked away when miscreants hijacked the NLC Trade Union rally in Owerri.

    However, Falana said the explanation given by the police was tainted with loopholes.

    In a statement he signed, Falana wondered why the police failed to arrest the miscreants that brutalised the NLC President in their presence.

    He said: “The police version of the brutalisation of the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero is full of loopholes.

    “Why did the police allow Comrade Ajero to be brutalised by the so-called miscreants? In other words, why did the police not protect him from the violent attack?

    “So the police who witnessed the attack without making any arrest suddenly turned round to take the victim to the police clinic. The members of the public who decried the barbaric attack took pictures, which exposed the misleading version of the police.

    “It is disturbing that the police justified the action of the so-called miscreants by saying that Comrade Ajero has disobeyed the order of a court. Why did the police not allow the court to purge Comrade Ajero of contempt of court?

    “We call on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate and ensure that the police officers who brutalised the NLC President are prosecuted without any delay.”

  • Ajulo, Falana’s wife, Afe Babalola’s daughter others make SAN’s list

    Ajulo, Falana’s wife, Afe Babalola’s daughter others make SAN’s list

    Dr Kayode Ajulo, a constitutional lawyer, and others have been shortlisted among the senior lawyers who made the list to be considered for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    This is contained in the lists released by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) in Abuja on Thursday.

    Also on the 69-man shortlist include Funmi,  wife of Mr. Femi Falana (SAN); the daughter of Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), Mrs. Folashade Alli, Abiola Oyebanji, and Bomo Agbebi.

    On the list are Daniel Uruakpa, Felix Offia, Lawrence Falade, Kingsley Obamogie amongst others.

    “The LPPC by this notice announced the shortlisting of Applicants who qualified after the Advocates 1st and 2nd Filtration Stages, Academic pre-qualification, and Academic 2nd filtration Exercise

    “Also after the Independent Appeals Hearing and Chambers Inspection Exercise, preparatory to the interview stage in the process for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the successful Applicants for the year 2023.

    “All qualified shortlisted Applicants are graded under two-category systems by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, namely Advocates and Academic Applicants respectively,” LPPC stated.

    Ajulo who made the list of the shortlisted senior lawyers is a right activist and an acclaimed legal expert and advocate renowned for his extensive knowledge and activism in various areas of law.

    This include litigation, constitutional law, corporate and commercial law, and human rights.

    Ajulo obtained his first law degree from the University of Jos in Nigeria and subsequently pursued further education at various international institutions.

    He currently serves as a research scholar at Lincoln University College and volunteers his expertise as an adjunct lecturer at several universities, including his home State institution, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State.

    Ajulo’s remarkable contributions have earned him numerous awards and honors, including Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) which was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Falana frowns at N110bn palliative for NASS members

    Falana frowns at N110bn palliative for NASS members

    Human rights activist, Femi Falana, has condemned the N110 billion palliative allocated to the National Assembly members, labeling it as illegal.

    In a press statement issued today, Falana called attention to the blatant breach of the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and urged the immediate reversal of these controversial measures.

    The statement reads: “Out of sheer insensitivity coupled with impunity, the members of the National Assembly, regardless of political affiliation conspired to breach the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 by padding the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2023 to provide the so called palliative of N70 billion for 306 newly elected members.

    “While the masses of Nigeria are groaning under the excruciating economic pains unleashed on them by the ruling class, the National Assembly has awarded N228.7 million to each of the newly elected legislators.

    “As if that is not enough, the members of the National Assembly have earmarked N40 billion to purchase 465 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and bulletproof cars for principal officials and members. However, the legislators approved the sum of N500 billion for 12 million indigent people in a country where the National Bureau of Statistics has said that “62.9 percent of people (133 million) are multidimensionally poor.”

    “The callous and insensitive decisions of the members of the National Assembly constitute a flagrant contravention of Section 70 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, which stipulates as follows:

    “A member of the Senate or of the House of Representatives shall receive such salary and other allowances as Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission may determine.”

  • Falana urges DSS to arraign Emefiele and Bawa in court if it had evidence of indictment.

    Falana urges DSS to arraign Emefiele and Bawa in court if it had evidence of indictment.

    Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN has asked the Department of State Services (DSS) to speed up the investigation into the cases involving the suspended Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa and the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

    Recall that Emefiele was arrested on June 10 over allegations of terrorism financing,vwhile Bawa was nabbed by the secret services over allegations of abuse of office levelled against him.

    Falana in an interview on Channels Television politics today, urged the DSS to arraign the duo in court if it had an evidence of indictment.

    He argued that the continued detention of Emefiele and Bawa did not reflect the implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

    The Senior Advocate of Nigeria urged the Nigerian government to handle the cases in line with the provisions of the law to avoid a situation whereby loopholes are exploited.

    “Investigations should be speedily conducted, more so where allegations are made. I do not expect any delay in the investigation of the very serious allegation that has been made,” he stated.

    “In the case of Emefiele, the State Security Services last year alleged his involvement in terrorism financing. Please, quickly do something about that. With respect to money laundering and other offences, take them to the appropriate agencies of government.

    “In the case of Mr Bawa, we haven’t been told the offences he committed. I cannot speak very confidently with respect to the gentleman except to ask the government or the agencies involved to speed up an investigation and have them arraigned if they are indicted.”

     

  • Falana urges Nigerians to resist economic policies designed to inflict pains

    Falana urges Nigerians to resist economic policies designed to inflict pains

    A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has urged Nigerians to resist the plan by the Federal Government to impose a forty percent hike in electricity tariff.

    Falana in an interview said it was insensitive and callous for the Federal Government to even think of increasing tariff on electricity after what Nigerians are going through following the removal of subsidy on petrol by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “Nigerians should resist economic policies that are designed to further inflict economic pains on them. With respect to the proposed electricity tariff, it is insensitive, it is almost wicked. Nigerians are yet to absorb the pains of the removal of the so-called fuel subsidy and the government is planning to increase the electricity tariff, Nigeria is planning to devalue the currency for an import-oriented economy.

    “The economic crisis that will be unleashed on the country through the dollarisation of the economy via the devaluation of the currency is high. So for me, we must take all these problems holistically.

    “Removal of fuel subsidy, increase in electricity tariff, proposes an increase in school fees, propose an increase in the price of diesel with the adoption of 7.5 percent VAT and so on; and unless we take a holistic analysis of all these, we may not be able to appreciate what Nigerians are meant to go through, meanwhile no government official at the stage of local government, state level and at the federal level is prepared to make any sacrifices.

    “When you go around you still see public officials with fleets of cars like twenty, twenty-five or even up to thirty cars following them; we cannot run a system like that. No public official has said he/she is not going to receive security votes in order to cut governance cost; unless people in power are ready to make sacrifices, the masses won’t take them seriously,” he said.

     

  • Falana gives reason why he can’t stop his son, Falz from embarrassing govt

    Falana gives reason why he can’t stop his son, Falz from embarrassing govt

    Popular human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has revealed why his son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, embarrasses the government.

    Falana said that the popular rapper and rights activist embarrasses the government because of his upbringing.

    The older Falana stated at the 2nd anniversary of the Oluyinka Odumakin Lecture in Lagos that his son was bothered by his frequent arrests as a legal practitioner when he was young.

    The lawyer stated that his son, Falz, had asked if he was a criminal because of his frequent arrests.

    Femi Falana made this statement days after Falz released a new song titled ‘Yakubu,’ which featured fellow rapper Vector.

    He said; “One of these guys one day said, ‘Falana talk to your son (Falz); he should stop embarrassing the government’. I said which government? You mean that boy who is an adult? Can I give you his number so you can talk to him? But be careful because when that boy was growing up, I was being arrested from time to time. So, the only language he understood was detention, arrest and the rest of them.

    “One day, when that boy was six, he asked his mother, “Our teacher taught us that only criminals were arrested. Is my father a criminal? Why is he always being arrested? And the mother had to say that in Nigeria, under the military; only two sets of people were arrested: Criminals suspects and political suspects.

    “Political suspects are those who are out to expose the criminality of the government. That is what you see going on.”

    Over the years, Falz has utilised his brand to not only entertain Nigerians, but also speak on the state of the Nation. Vector, on the other hand, is also quite known for his witty ability to use his music to speak to societal anomalies. They never miss the opportunity to use their music to identify the ills in society and address them with creative and satirical lyricism. Falz’s project Moral Instruction and Vector’s African Mind Voem project are attestations to this.
    ‘Mr Yakubu’ is out across streaming services

  • Lawyers must ensure Bolanle Raheem does not die like others – Falana

    Lawyers must ensure Bolanle Raheem does not die like others – Falana

    Senior lawyer and human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana, has urged Nigerian lawyers to ensure that the death of the Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mrs Bolanle Raheem is not in vain.

    Raheem was shot dead on December 25 2022 in the Ajah area of the state sparking outrage from many Nigerians.

    The Police Service Commission has suspended an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, named as the officer responsible for the killing.

    In a statement on Friday,  December 30, Falana condemned the murder and asked the Nigerian Bar Association to mobilise the masses against police brutality in Nigeria.

    “Nigerian lawyers must ensure that Mrs Bolanle Raheem does not die in vain like others who were dispatched to their untimely graves before her,” he stated.

    “Indeed, the best tribute that the NBA can pay to the deceased is to use her cold-blooded murder to mobilise the Nigerian people to end police brutality in Nigeria.

    “To start with, police checkpoints must be removed from Nigerian roads. The roads should be patrolled by combined teams of officers from the police and road safety commission.”

  • June 12: Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, other activists lay wreath on Abiola’s grave

    Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana and several others on Sunday, gathered to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the death of Chief Moshood Abiola.

    They gathered at his residence in Ikeja, Lagos for a wreath-laying ceremony even as they expressed concerns about the state of the nation.

    The late Chief Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, died on July 7, 1998, after spending years in detention in the fight for his mandate and for Nigeria’s return to democracy.

    Soyinka, as well as some others present at the ceremony, while paying tribute to Abiola lamented that Nigeria has not achieved his vision and Nigerians were still battling poverty and injustice among other things.

    The Nobel Laureate, who has repeatedly called for decisive action to combat insecurity in the country, drew attention to the rate of poverty in the country.

    “I am afraid. Just looking at the level of poverty scares me. I am afraid for this nation,” he said.

    “For the first time, in a very deep, visceral way, I really am afraid for this country.”

    Mr Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, recalled Abiola’s vision of the nation and called for unity.

    He said, “Abiola stood for justice for all. Abiola’s mandate was a reflection of the popular will of the people. That mandate, that election defied ethnicity, religion or any other primordial consideration.

    “Therefore, if we want to recognise June 12, if we want to celebrate Abiola, we must celebrate the unity of our people and not the disunity of our country”.

  • 26th ACSR: This regime cannot be taken seriously in the fight against corruption- FALANA

    26th ACSR: This regime cannot be taken seriously in the fight against corruption- FALANA

    Former President of West African Bar Association (WABA) and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Femi Falana, on Thursday said the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration cannot be taken seriously in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

    Falana, who spoke as a Guest Speaker at the 26th ACSR in Abuja, on the theme “State of Anticorruption in Nigeria: Assessment of 2021 and Agenda for 2022” urged persons interested in the fight against corruption in the country to be involved in politics.

    “You must no longer leave politics for the elites. Every capitalist country is corrupt. So, if you must fight corruption, you must be involved in the politics of Nigeria,” Falana asserted.

    According to him, the law in Nigeria that should have aided the fight against corruption in the country is not neutral, saying “do not allow laws and courts to make a mockery of the fight against corruption.”

    Falana noted that the Code of Conduct Bureau needs to be transparent if it wants to fight corruption in the country.

    The senior advocate wondered why when someone in Nigeria steals yam to feed his family but gets caught, the person is taken to court and charged for stealing.

    “If found guilty, the Law will punish that person with 7 years imprisonment. But the man that steals billions is charged for money laundering and gets 6 years jail term as punishment,” he added.

    In his words: “How do you fight corruption when there is no transparency? If you must fight corruption, you must know what a minister has as assets before resuming office- so you can know when the minister has illegally acquired assets when leaving office.”

    The senior advocate pointed out that the reason why “Yahoo-Yahoo” is in the mind of some Nigerian youths is that they want to live the life that they see the children of many corrupt politicians live.

    He stated: “There is also “Yahoo-Politicians” too. You that got money for the repair or fixing of a road and you keep the money to yourself, allowing accidents to occur and people die- is that not “Yahoo-Politician?

    “Or, you receive more for Nigerian hospitals to function well and travel abroad for treatment without fixing the hospitals and people die- is that not “Yahoo-Politician?”

  • How Lagos #EndSARS panel report exposed ‘official lie’ of Government – Falana

    How Lagos #EndSARS panel report exposed ‘official lie’ of Government – Falana

    Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has urged the Lagos State Government to implement the recommendations of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, set up to investigate cases of police brutality and other SARS-related crimes.

    Falana said this in a statement signed on Tuesday, a day after the panel concluded on its findings, and affirmed that the Nigerian Army shot and killed unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

    He said members of the Okuwobi Judicial Commission of Inquiry deserve commendation for the thorough investigation of police brutality in Lagos State, adding that a copy of the report should be sent to the President.

    “In particular, the revelation that some of the 99 dead bodies dumped in the various mortuaries in Lagos by soldiers were traced to the Lekki Toll Gate has exposed the official lie that the report of the brutal killing was a figment of the imagination of the protesters.

    “A certified copy of the Report of the Panel should be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari in view of the recommendation that the soldiers and police personnel who engaged in the torture and reckless murder of citizens be sanctioned.

    “Having received the report of the Judicial Commission the Lagos State Government is urged to accelerate the issuance of the White Paper as well as the implementation of the far-reaching recommendations.

    “The policemen who were killed by criminal elements during the protests should be honoured notwithstanding that their family members have been compensated by the Lagos State Government.

    “However, as police brutality has continued unabated we call on the Government to set up the Lagos State Human Rights Committee in line with the recommendation of the Panel. This was part of the unanimous resolutions of the members of the National Economic Council,” the statement read in part.

    Falana went further to state that while commending the witnesses and their lawyers for exposing the official cover-up of the egregious human rights abuse perpetrated by the merchants of death, the Lagos State Government should designate venues where aggrieved citizens can hold rallies in the exercise of their fundamental rights to freedom of assembly and expression.

    He also added that the violent attack of unarmed protesters during peaceful rallies by police and military personnel should be completely outlawed since section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act, 2020 has imposed a duty on the police to provide adequate security for citizens who participate in peaceful meetings and rallies.