Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against any plans to seal embassies and foreign missions in Abuja over unpaid ground rents.
Falana issued the warning on Monday, June 9, 2025, citing international laws that protect diplomatic premises, particularly the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“Embassies and missions cannot be invaded because they have not paid ground rent, which is not applicable for all of them,” Falana said.
His remarks follow the FCT Administration’s recent decision to publish the names of about 9,000 individuals and entities—allegedly indebted for ground rents—alongside a directive to settle all outstanding payments or risk forfeiture of their properties. The administration disclosed on May 23, 2025, that it would take possession of approximately 5,000 properties with rent arrears dating back 10 to 43 years.
Among the sealed properties was the national secretariat of a major political party. However, President Bola Tinubu intervened by granting a 14-day grace period to all affected parties to comply, a period which ended on Friday, June 6, 2025—coinciding with the Eid holiday.
As residents await the administration’s next steps following the Sallah break, concerns have been raised about the potential diplomatic fallout should embassies be targeted.
Falana, referencing Article 22 of the Vienna Convention, stressed that embassies are protected and must not be interfered with by host governments.
“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,” he said. “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.”
He also argued that the FCT Administration has no legal authority to unilaterally seal private properties without due process, citing several legal precedents.
“There are about 20 high court, appeal court, and Supreme Court decisions that ruled that the FCT authorities have no right to unilaterally seal up any property within the nation’s capital,” he noted.
“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 added.
The ongoing enforcement of ground rent payments has sparked debate across legal and diplomatic circles, with many watching to see how the FCT Administration will proceed in compliance with constitutional and international obligations.
