In a pointed critique, Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has challenged prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) to substantiate his qualifications for the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
Olayinka’s remarks came in a statement released on Monday, where he questioned Falana’s contributions to the legal profession, stating, “It is funny and ridiculous that in the mind of Falana, only those who have handled cases in trial court or appellate court are lawyers, and that a lawyer must have handled cases in trial or appellate court to be qualified for appointment as a Life Bencher.”
He asserted that Wike’s membership in the Body of Benchers was earned through substantial contributions to legal education. “Apart from going on television to make noise, what has Falana contributed to the legal profession?” he asked.
Highlighting Wike’s achievements as Governor of Rivers State, Olayinka noted, “Wike was instrumental to the establishment and infrastructural development of the campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt, which is the best centre for legal education in Nigeria today.” He continued, “He also played major roles in the development of facilities at the Yenagoa campus of the Nigerian Law School by constructing a state-of-the-art 1,500 capacity hall and 200-bed male and female hostels, among other interventions.”
Now serving as FCT Minister, Wike is reportedly constructing a 10-unit housing quarters for the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja, and has provided operational vehicles to enhance the school’s operations.
In further questioning Falana’s contributions, Olayinka stated, “The question is; what has Falana done for the legal profession? Even in Ekiti State, where he is from, he has not contributed anything.” He pointed out that significant developments in Ekiti have been led by other legal luminaries, mentioning that “The Bar Center in Ado Ekiti was built by Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) while the one in Ikere Ekiti was built by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).”
Olayinka also took Falana to task over alleged misinformation regarding a Supreme Court ruling. “Falana lied on National Television by saying that the Supreme Court judgment on Rivers State ‘had nothing to do with who is the authentic Speaker of the House’ when the issue of defection of the 27 members of the House of Assembly was determined by the Supreme Court,” he stated.
He added, “It was on the basis of the Supreme Court judgment that Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt dismissed the suit filed by the Labour Party against the alleged defection, saying that the Supreme Court’s ruling had finalized the issue of defection.”
Olayinka emphasised the importance of legal accuracy, remarking, “If as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you could tell your client that Section 96 (1) of the Constitution of Nigeria is useless and in a House of Assembly of 32 members, three can sit, questions need to be asked as to how exactly you qualified as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.”
‘Lere, as Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, you are expected to oversee the development of communication strategies to improve public awareness of government activities and facilitate stronger engagement between the FCT Administration and the public… Are you doing so? You are opening up a chapter with Egbon Femi Falana? That’s a rough one o. Thread carefully bro.