Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against sealing off embassies and foreign missions in Abuja over unpaid ground rents.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Falana stated that embassies are protected under international law and cannot be targeted for such enforcement actions.
“Embassies and missions cannot be invaded because they have not paid ground rent, which is not even applicable to all of them,” Falana said, citing Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which grants diplomatic premises inviolability.
The warning follows the FCT Administration’s publication of about 9,000 property owners—including 34 embassies and missions—owing ground rent arrears, with threats of forfeiture. On May 23, 2025, the administration announced it would repossess over 5,000 properties in default for between 10 and 43 years. Properties such as the PDP National Secretariat have already been sealed.
However, President Bola Tinubu intervened, granting a 14-day grace period that expired on Friday, June 6, 2025, which coincided with the Eid public holiday. Public attention is now focused on what actions the FCT administration may take after the Sallah break ends on Tuesday, June 10.
Falana emphasized that multiple rulings from high courts, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court have held that the FCT Administration cannot unilaterally seal any property without a court order.
He added, “The right to a fair hearing is enshrined in Section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. No minister can override this by executive order.”
Falana called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to advise Wike appropriately.
“Yes, debts are owed — that’s regrettable. But if the government wants to recover them, it must go through the proper legal process,” he said.
He further recommended using the Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal, a five-member body with jurisdiction over property matters in Abuja, as the proper forum for resolving such disputes.
“We are operating a democracy. Due process must be followed,” Falana concluded.
