Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has once again criticized the recent actions of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the sealing of properties in Abuja for unpaid ground rent. Appearing on Politics Today on Channels Television, Falana condemned what he described as “a dangerous disregard for due process and the rule of law.”
Citing the laws that protect both citizens and property owners, Falana drew a parallel between personal landlord-tenant relationships and the obligations of the government under the constitution.
“I have a tenant who is not paying rent; I cannot seal off the house or disconnect the electricity,” Falana said emphatically. “It is against the law, and doing so would be considered self-help—which is illegal.”
The senior lawyer argued that the same standard applies to the government. According to him, if the FCT Minister or any public authority believes that an individual or institution has defaulted on payments, such as ground rent, the appropriate and legal step is to approach the court.
“You must go to court. Even under military rule, courts have consistently ruled that no citizen or authority has the power to take laws into their own hands. Under a civilian government, the expectation should be even higher,” he said.
Falana’s statement comes amid widespread criticism of the FCTA’s recent actions, which included sealing the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), some banks, and other commercial buildings in Abuja over unpaid ground rents.
He warned that if government officials continue to act as “accuser, judge, and executor,” it sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the foundation of the rule of law in Nigeria.
Falana further explained that in Lagos and other states, it is now a criminal offense to evict a tenant unlawfully or to disconnect basic services like electricity and water without a court order. He argued that if this applies to private citizens, it must also apply to the government.
“We cannot have one law for the people and another for those in power. That is the very definition of impunity,” he added.
He urged affected individuals and organizations to seek redress in court and called on the judiciary to remain firm in upholding the constitution. He also called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to rein in overreaching government officials.
“The law is clear,” Falana concluded. “No matter who you are, if you want to recover rent, taxes, or enforce property rights, you must go to court. Anything else is illegal.”
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