SERAP to Tinubu: Stop Wike’s Threat to Embassies, It’s Illegal

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately rein in FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over what it called a “purported threat” to shut down 34 embassies in Abuja for unpaid ground rents — a move the group says violates international law.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, SERAP warned that such action breaches the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which protects foreign missions from arbitrary interference.

“President Tinubu should urgently caution and direct the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to immediately withdraw the threat,” SERAP stated.

Referencing Article 22 of the Convention, the rights group reminded the government that diplomatic premises are inviolable and cannot be searched, seized, or subject to enforcement actions like eviction or shutdown.

“The premises of the mission shall be inviolable… immune from search, requisition, attachment, or execution,” SERAP quoted directly from the treaty.

The controversy follows a May 26 directive by Wike ordering enforcement action against 4,794 properties in Abuja over unpaid ground rents — including dozens of embassies, some of which reportedly owe as little as ₦150, while others owe over ₦1 million.

Among the embassies on the FCT’s defaulters list are those of:

• Ghana, Russia, China, India, Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Netherlands, and the EU, among others.

The Zambia High Commission tops the list with ₦1.18 million in debt, while China’s Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office owes ₦12,000. In total, missions owe just over ₦3.66 million — a relatively small sum considering the diplomatic stakes.

While Tinubu has granted a 14-day grace period — which expires today (Monday) — concerns persist over Wike’s aggressive tactics, especially the imposition of penalties between ₦2 million and ₦3 million on defaulters.

“Revenue collection is important,” SERAP acknowledged, “but it must not contravene diplomatic protocols or international obligations.”

This latest row adds to Wike’s growing list of controversies since assuming office as FCT Minister — with critics warning that his combative style may now be spilling into sensitive foreign policy terrain.