Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against any move to seal embassies and foreign missions in Abuja over unpaid ground rents.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Falana emphasized that both international law and the Nigerian Constitution prohibit such actions. “Embassies and missions cannot be invaded because they have not paid ground rent, which in some cases may not even apply,” he said.
His remarks follow reports that the FCT Administration, under Wike’s leadership, published a list of 9,000 defaulting property owners — including 34 embassies — threatening to revoke titles and repossess the properties over unpaid rents. On May 23, 2025, the FCTA announced plans to seal nearly 5,000 properties for rent arrears spanning 10 to 43 years. Some properties, including the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, have already been affected.
President Bola Tinubu later granted a 14-day grace period for defaulters to settle their debts, a window that expired on Friday, June 6 — coinciding with the Eid-el-Kabir holiday. Attention now turns to the FCT’s next steps, with enforcement possibly resuming from Tuesday, June 10.
Falana firmly argued that sealing off properties without due legal process contravenes Nigerian court rulings. Referencing the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, he said: “Article 22 clearly states that the premises of any embassy are inviolable. Any invasion would create serious diplomatic tensions for Nigeria.”
He also challenged the legality of Wike’s directive, pointing out that it violates constitutional rights and international human rights laws. “The minister cannot seal a property without allowing the owner to be heard. Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter guarantee fair hearing,” he noted.
Calling for intervention, Falana urged the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to step in and provide guidance.
“Ground rent debts must be addressed, but enforcement must follow the rule of law,” Falana stressed. “There is a legally constituted Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal in Abuja. It is the proper forum for resolving such disputes. If anyone is aggrieved, the courts are available. We are in a democracy.”