Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has fired back at renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), questioning the legitimacy of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria status.
In a statement released on Monday, Olayinka challenged Falana to publicly list his landmark legal victories and tangible contributions to the legal profession.
“It is funny and ridiculous that in the mind of Falana, only those who have handled cases in trial court or appellate court are lawyers, and that a lawyer must have handled cases in trial or appellate court to be qualified for appointment as a Life Bencher,” Olayinka said.
He defended his principal, Nyesom Wike, noting that the FCT Minister’s appointment as a member of the Body of Benchers was well deserved due to his contributions to legal education and judiciary development.
“As Governor of Rivers State, Wike was instrumental to the establishment and infrastructural development of the campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt, which is the best centre for legal education in Nigeria today,” Olayinka stated.
He added that Wike also funded significant projects at the Yenagoa campus, including a 1,500-capacity hall and 200-bed hostels, and is currently building 10-unit housing quarters for the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja.
“Now that he is FCT Minister, he is constructing a 10-unit housing quarters for the Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja.
“He has also provided operational vehicles to the school to improve its operation,” Olayinka added.
He questioned Falana’s own record, saying, “Apart from going on television to make noise, what has Falana contributed to the legal profession?”
Olayinka claimed that unlike other legal luminaries from Ekiti such as Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) and Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who have made visible impacts in their home state, Falana had no notable contributions.
“The Bar Center in Ado Ekiti was built by Aare Afe Babalola while the one in Ikere Ekiti was built by Chief Wole Olanipekun.
“Aare Afe Babalola has been sponsoring the NBA annual lecture for years and has been assisting lawyers in Ekiti with medical treatments in his Ado Ekiti teaching hospital. What has Falana done? Nothing!” he said.
He also accused Falana of misleading the public on the Supreme Court ruling concerning the defection of 27 Rivers State lawmakers.
“It was on the basis of the Supreme Court judgment that Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt dismissed the suit filed by the Labour Party against the alleged defection,” Olayinka said.
“But Falana went on television to lie and deceive his client that the Supreme Court didn’t rule on the defection.”
Olayinka criticised Falana for suggesting that three lawmakers could constitute a quorum in the 32-member Assembly.
“If as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you could tell your client that Section 96 (1) of the Constitution of Nigeria is useless and in a House of Assembly of 32 members, three can sit, questions need to be asked as to how exactly you qualified as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” he said.
The statement, dated April 21, 2025, has stirred reactions within legal and political spheres, further deepening the debate over the constitutional and ethical dimensions of the crisis in Rivers State.
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