Sealing Embassies Will Spark Diplomatic Crisis, Falana Tells Wike

Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has cautioned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, against attempting to seal embassies and foreign missions over unpaid ground rents.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, Falana insisted that such an action would violate both international law and Nigeria’s constitutional principles. He referenced Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees the inviolability of diplomatic premises, warning that any invasion or sealing of embassies in Abuja would trigger serious diplomatic repercussions for Nigeria.

“Embassies and missions cannot be invaded because they have not paid ground rent, which is not applicable for all of them,” Falana said, emphasizing that the rule of law must prevail regardless of debt concerns.

The FCT Administration, under Wike’s leadership, had earlier published the names of over 9,000 individuals and entities owing ground rents, including 34 embassies, and threatened to reclaim lands from debtors who fail to pay. On May 23, 2025, it began sealing off properties, including the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), citing arrears of 10 to 43 years.

Although President Bola Tinubu intervened by granting a 14-day grace period that expired on June 6 — a public holiday for Eid — public attention has since turned to Wike’s next steps, with a possible post-holiday enforcement starting Tuesday, June 10.

Falana, however, argued that the law does not permit such unilateral actions, pointing to multiple rulings from high courts, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court that bar FCT authorities from sealing properties without due process.

“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,” he said.

He called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, to urgently intervene and advise the FCT Minister appropriately to avoid breaching international diplomatic protocols and Nigeria’s legal framework.

“There’s a tribunal in Abuja — the Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal — that is empowered to decide on such matters. If you’re owed, go to court. That’s the democratic route,” Falana stated.

The legal luminary concluded by reiterating that while debt recovery is necessary, it must be pursued within the confines of the law.