By Chinelo Obogo
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has issued a response to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike’s comments over claims that Falana misrepresented facts about the Supreme Court’s judgement on the defection of Rivers State legislators.
During a press briefing in Abuja last week, Wike accused Falana of spreading falsehoods on national television about the status of the lawmakers’ defection. He said: “A few days ago, the Supreme Court settled this matter of defection. For someone of Femi Falana’s caliber to lie on national television is deeply concerning. Such lies could incite significant crises.”
However, reacting to Wike’s statement, Falana released a statement on Sunday in which he dismissed Wike’s allegations as “baseless and tendentious.” Falana said his comment on the matter was based on the Supreme Court’s resolution of the defection case involving 27 Rivers State Assembly members. He emphasized that his analysis reflected the court’s stance, insisting that it is not a distortion of its ruling.
Falana also pointed out that the minister had previously lauded the Supreme Court’s decision and even organised a thanksgiving event to celebrate the outcome.
“I did not misrepresent the Supreme Court’s judgment. My observation was strictly that the defection issue was raised suo motu and resolved by the apex court. This is indisputable, given that the matter was concurrently pending before the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the Federal High Court at the time. Yet, without legal basis, he now attacks me for offering commentary on the same judgment,” Falana said.