FALANA WARNS AGAINST SEALING OF EMBASSIES OVER NON-PAYMENT OF GROUND RENT

FALANA WARNS AGAINST SEALING OF EMBASSIES OVER NON-PAYMENT OF GROUND RENT

Activist lawyer Femi Falana has cautioned the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, against sealing off embassies over non-payment of ground rent.

Falana warned the FCTA, under the leadership of Minister Nyesom Wike, that sealing off embassies located in Abuja would lead to a serious diplomatic crisis for Nigeria.

On the orders of Wike, officials of FCTA had embarked on sealing off some properties over failure to pay ground rent.

Following the public outcry that greeted the process, President Bola Tinubu intervened.

Wike subsequently announced a two-week period for defaulters to pay up.

However, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Falana said: “No court of law can order that execution be levied on any embassy, and Nigeria is part of the international community.

“If we embark on invading the embassy of any country, it’s going to lead to a serious diplomatic crisis for Nigeria. It’s not allowed. In fact, if a policeman is pursuing anybody for committing any offence and the person is able to scale the fence of an embassy, the police officer can’t invade the embassy, irrespective of the offence committed.

“Embassies and missions covered by the Vienna Convention of Diplomatic Relations can’t be invaded because they have not paid ground rent. If we embark on invading the embassy of any country, it is going to lead to serious diplomatic problems for Nigeria.”