Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against sealing 34 embassies and foreign missions over unpaid ground rents in Abuja.

Falana stated on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday that “Embassies and missions cannot be invaded because they have not paid ground rent, which is not applicable for all of them.”

The Wike administration had previously published details of 9,000 debtors, demanding ground rent payments to avoid land forfeiture.

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On May 23, 2025, the FCT Administration announced it would seize about 5,000 properties with outstanding ground rents from 10 to 43 years, and began sealing properties, including the PDP national secretariat.

However, President Bola Tinubu granted defaulters a 14-day grace period, which expired on Friday, June 6, 2025 (a public holiday).

Many Nigerians are now anticipating the Wike administration’s next steps after the Sallah holidays on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Falana argued that approximately 20 high court, appeal court, and Supreme Court decisions have ruled that FCT authorities lack the right to unilaterally seal any property within the nation’s capital.

The senior lawyer said, “As far as the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations is concerned, the premises of any embassy in Abuja are inviolable by Article 22 of the convention.

“If we embark on invading the embassy of any country, it’s going to lead to serious diplomatic problems for Nigeria. So, it is not allowed.

“The minister cannot order that a house be sealed up because the right to a fair hearing is guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Act. What this implies is that before you can take action against me, you must give me the right to make a representation.”

Falana said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi; should quickly advise the FCT minister.

“I expect the Minister of Foreign Affairs to have intervened. I also expect the Attorney General of the Federation to intervene,” he said.

“The rule of law must be allowed to operate. Yes, people are owing. Too bad! But if you want to collect your money, you must go to court.

“There is a tribunal in Abuja — Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal constituted by five members from the building industry. That is the body that has the final say on demolition and attempts to seal up properties. In other words, anybody who is aggrieved by the threat to seal up a property is advised to go to court. We are operating a democracy,” he added.

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