Tag: Femi Falana

2027: Falana, Ezekwesili, Utomi, others threaten legal action against NASS, Police

Aminu Imam
Falana, others threaten NASS, Police

An advocacy group, the “Movement for Credible Elections’ (MCE) has vowed to institute what it described as a formidable legal action against the National Assembly and the Nigeria Police for brutalising citizens protesting peacefully at the National Assembly for credible electoral frameworks for the 2027 elections. Leaders of the Steering Council of the newlyjlaunched MCE include Usman Bugaje, Pat Utomi, Ayuba Wabba, Oby Ezekwesili, Femi Falana (SAN), Amb Nkoyo Toyo, Hajia Bilkisu Magoro, Ene Obi, Salisu Mohammed, Bala Zakka, among others. In an issued statement on Wednesday by its Head…

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Tax reform controversy deepens, as Northern groups, Falana fault Tinubu’s Jan. 1 rollout

Aminu Imam
Northern groups, Falana fault tax rollout

The controversy surrounding Nigeria’s new tax reform laws intensified yesterday, as the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and prominent human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), separately warned the Federal Government against implementing the laws from January 1, 2026, amid unresolved allegations of post-legislative alterations. Recall that President Tinubu, in a statement signed on Tuesday, had reaffirmed that the implementation of the tax reforms would proceed as scheduled from January 1, 2026, describing them as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fair, competitive and robust fiscal foundation”, and insisting that no…

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“W’Bank, IMF insisted FG must remove all subsidies’ – Falana

Aminu Imam
Falana on W'Bank, IMF

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has accused the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of pushing the federal government to remove fuel subsidy. Falana, while speaking during an interview on a television programme on Sunday, stated that no country in the world has completely abolished subsidies. The human rights activist further criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the decision to remove the fuel subsidy. He said, “There’s no way you can remove subsidy completely. No country in the entire world has abolished subsidies completely. Even leading…

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Mandatory voting Bill violates constitutional rights, says Falana

Aminu Imam
Falana

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has criticised a proposed Bill seeking to make voting compulsory in Nigeria, describing it as a violation of citizens’ constitutional rights. The Bill, sponsored by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, proposes a 6-month jail term or a fine of ₦100,000 for eligible voters who fail to participate in elections. Abbas said the objective is to address low voter turnout, promote civic responsibility, and transform voting from a personal choice into a legal obligation. However, Falana, in a statement issued…

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‘IOCs owe Nigeria $6bn in taxes’- Falana

Aminu Imam
Femi Falana

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has raised serious concerns over the country’s weak tax enforcement system, revealing that oil and gas companies owe Nigeria a staggering $6 billion in unpaid taxes. Speaking yesterday, during a paper presentation titled: ‘Tax Law and Administration: Challenges of Compliance’, at the ongoing 27th Annual Tax Conference of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in Abuja, Falana criticised the Federal Government for allowing such massive revenue losses while continuing to borrow to fund national budgets. He described…

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‘Criminal diversion of $3.4bn IMF loan must be probed’ – Falana

Aminu Imam
Falana on probe

Renowned lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, (SAN), and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe the allegations that $3.4 billion loan obtained from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is missing, diverted or unaccounted for”. Recall that last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed that Nigeria has fully repaid the $3.4 billion emergency COVID-19 loan it received in 2020 under the Rapid Financing Instrument, (RFI).  According to Falana, who is the Chair, Alliance…

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“Yar’Adua voided refineries sale over conflict of interest” – Falana to Obasanjo

Aminu Imam
Falana to Obasanjo

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) yesterday attributed the Federal  Government’s  cancellation of a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement for the management of the Port-Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries approved by the Obasanjo government in 2007 to the questionable circumstances surrounding the deal. Falana, responding to the Thursday statement by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on how his successor, the Late Umaru Yar Adua, refunded the $750 million paid by a consortium to run the refineries, said the deal lacked transparency. The activist, in a statement issued on behalf of Alliance on Surviving Covid…

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Falana faults Agbakobas claim on EFCCs legal status

Aminu Imam
Falana faults Agbakoba

Human rights activist and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has written to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to oppose the view expressed by the ex-president of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), regarding the legal status of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. In a letter dated 17 October 2024, Falana disagreed with Agbakobas assertion that the EFCC is an unlawful organisation. The letter read: Our attention has been drawn to separate letters addressed to…

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Sanusi/ Bayero: ‘Judicial orders in Kano an embarrassment to Judiciary’ – Falana

Aminu Imam
Femi Falana

Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has described the recent judicial orders in Kano State as an embarrassment to the Judiciary. In an interview on a television programme yesterday, the legal luminary highlighted that the existence of conflicting judicial orders creates significant issues. Specifically, he mentioned that the state High Court issued an order in favor of Sanusi that such conflict would be resolved by the Court of Appeal to mitigate any confusion.He argued that this procedural step should typically prevent any further pronouncements from the Federal High Court judge,…

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Tell Nigerians if fuel subsidy has been restored Falana tells FG

Aminu Imam

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has challenged President Bola Tinubu-led government to confirm or deny if petrol subsidy has been restored. Recall that President Tinubu on his inauguration on May 29, 2023, announced the removal of the petrol subsidy. This development has worsened the living conditions of Nigerians, as the disposable income of citizens continues to decline due to inflation. Falana, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Oil, Robert Dickerman, claimed at a conference in Abuja that the federal government…

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