‘We’re Not in Gaza’ — Falana Slams Midnight Demolitions in Lagos, Abuja

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has condemned the recent wave of demolitions in Lagos and Abuja, describing the actions as unconstitutional, illegal, and a blatant violation of citizens’ rights to property.

Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise News, Falana said neither governors nor ministers have the constitutional authority to unilaterally order the demolition of buildings, regardless of alleged infractions.

“Under our constitutional arrangement, no governor or minister has the power to wake up one morning and order that someone’s house be demolished. Due process must be followed statutory notices must be issued, complaints heard, and a competent tribunal or court must decide before any demolition takes place,” he said.

Falana cited Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees every Nigerian the right to acquire and own property anywhere in the country, and Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which reinforces this protection.

“The provisions of Chapter Four of the Constitution are sacrosanct. They cannot be breached under any guise not even by ministers or governors claiming to restore order,” he stated.

The senior advocate condemned the ongoing demolitions in the Federal Capital Territory ordered by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and the midnight demolition of parts of Oworonshoki in Lagos, describing both as “acts of executive lawlessness.”

He alleged that in Abuja, the legally established Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal had been bypassed, while in Lagos, a valid court order restraining the demolition was ignored. “Our law firm obtained an order from the High Court stopping the demolition in Oworonshoki. The order was served on the government, yet, in the dead of night, bulldozers moved in. That is a clear case of contempt of court,” Falana said.

He vowed that affected residents would seek justice, recalling previous court rulings where victims of unlawful demolitions were awarded compensation. “In Abuja, the court recently awarded ₦200 million against the FCT for illegal demolition. In Lagos, ₦3.5 billion was awarded for the Makoko demolitions. The victims will get justice again,” he added.

Lamenting the current state of governance, Falana said some civilian officials have become more reckless than military rulers. “Even under the military, the courts insisted that due process must be followed. What we are seeing now is worse. You cannot demolish people’s homes while they are asleep, tear-gas their houses, and claim to be enforcing the law. We are not in Gaza,” he declared.

Falana also reacted to the recent controversy surrounding the Presidential Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation, describing the inclusion of ineligible names in the presidential pardon list as a “national embarrassment.”

“Those who recommended unqualified persons for pardon should face sanctions. It is not enough to quietly withdraw the names. The Attorney-General owes the nation an apology for this colossal embarrassment,” he said.

Despite doubts about enforcement, Falana reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing justice through the courts. “Whenever victims of injustice come to us, we do not turn them away. We will ensure justice is done, even if the heavens fall. Nobody is above the law in this country,” he vowed.