Falana Nigerian Government’s Mistakes, Senate for Continuous Court Decision Defense

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (San), accused the Federal and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, due to continuous disobedience to the court’s decision, warning that such neglect pose a big threat to the Democratic Nigerian order.

In a statement issued on Friday, Falana condemned what he described as a culture of impunity that developed among state institutions and strong individuals. He mainly blamed the Senate under the leadership of Akpabio, calling it “the most famous” in violating judicial direction.

Citing certain cases, Falana noted that the re-election of Camelarad Tajudeen Gunawa as President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in August 2023 was upheld by the National Industrial Court and the Appeals Court. Apart from this decision, the newly forcibly moved from the National Secretariat of the Uni who supported other candidates.

He further highlighted the non-compliance of the federal government against the Supreme Court’s decision on July 2024 which gave financial autonomy to the local government, as well as the rejection of the Senate of the Decision of the Federal High Court which stated the suspension of the Natasha Akpoti-Uuduaghan senator who violated the law. Instead of obeying, said Falana, the leadership of the senate changed the suspension of six months into unlimited.

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Advocate rights urged the President of the Tinubu ball to immediately intervene, even suspend his vacation if necessary, to avoid what he described as “unavoidable offspring in anarchy.” He also asked the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take decisive steps, given the 1987 court boycott under alao alias-Bashorun, which forced the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida to comply with the orders of the Federal High Court.

Falana warned that the fourth Republic of Nigeria had a risk of collapse because of abuse of power, corruption, and what he called “the arrest of the state from the judiciary.”

He added that the election malpractice had reached a worrying level, with the current perpetrators openly brave to challenge the results in court where, he accused, the results were often determined beforehand.