Human rights lawyer Femi Falana says the FCT Minister has no legal power to seal embassies in Abuja over unpaid ground rent, citing international and Nigerian law.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has stated that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, lacks the legal authority to seal off 34 embassies over alleged unpaid ground rents of N3.6 billion.
In a statement titled FCT Lacks Power to Seal Off Embassies In Nigeria, Falana cited Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees the inviolability of mission premises.
“The premises of the mission shall be inviolable… immune from search, requisition, attachment or execution,” he quoted.
He also referenced Article 23, which exempts missions from national or municipal taxes and rates, including ground rents.
According to Falana, the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act of 1961 further protects embassies from such actions.
“Any suit filed to recover the rents will be struck out due to diplomatic immunity,” he added, urging the Federal Government to withdraw the threat, calling the embassies “extraterritorial.”