“You Can’t Storm an Embassy Over Rent!” Falana Slams FCT’s Drastic Measures
Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has issued a stern warning to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, cautioning against the sealing of embassies and foreign missions in Abuja over unpaid ground rents. According to Falana, such actions flagrantly breach both international law and Nigeria’s constitution.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Falana argued that foreign embassies enjoy special protections under international law, making them off-limits in domestic disputes — even those involving money.
“Embassies and missions cannot be invaded simply because they haven’t paid ground rent,” Falana said, referencing Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which shields diplomatic premises from local enforcement actions.
The warning follows an aggressive campaign by the Wike-led FCT Administration to recover decades-old rent arrears. On May 23, 2025, authorities threatened to repossess over 5,000 properties owing between 10 to 43 years of rent, including embassies and the PDP national secretariat — several of which have already been sealed.
President Bola Tinubu temporarily paused the clampdown, granting a 14-day grace period that expired on June 6 — a public holiday. With the Sallah break ending on June 10, all eyes are now on Wike’s next move.
But Falana insists that storming embassies or sealing properties without legal recourse is not only unconstitutional but could spark international backlash.
“If we attempt to invade any embassy, we’re inviting serious diplomatic trouble. It’s simply not permissible,” he warned.
Falana also highlighted that even domestic properties cannot be sealed without due process, citing at least 20 court decisions — from high courts to the Supreme Court — that have ruled such unilateral actions by FCT authorities as unlawful.
“The minister cannot simply order a house to be sealed. The right to a fair hearing is enshrined in Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights,” he emphasized.
Calling for urgent intervention, Falana appealed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), to advise Wike before further damage is done.
“I expect the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the AGF to step in immediately,” he said.
While acknowledging that many are indeed in arrears, Falana stressed that the only lawful path to recovery is through the courts.
“Yes, people owe money. But in a democracy, you can’t collect it by sealing buildings — you must go to court. That’s the rule of law,” he concluded.
