The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has rallied in defense of renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, following recent verbal attacks from associates of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, CSNAC described the attacks on Falana as “baseless, petty, and politically naive,” asserting that the senior lawyer’s contributions to Nigeria’s democracy and legal system far exceed the reach of “latter-day political thugs and charlatans” occupying political offices.
The controversy stems from a public spat between Falana and Lere Olayinka, an aide to Minister Wike, who questioned Falana’s legal credentials and the legitimacy of his SAN title. Olayinka accused Falana of misleading the public over the Supreme Court ruling concerning the leadership crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly.
However, CSNAC dismissed the accusations as a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices. The group emphasised that Falana’s elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria was earned through decades of rigorous legal practice, human rights advocacy, and public interest litigation, not political patronage.
“Unlike individuals who have never argued a single case in court but boast of legal titles, Falana’s legacy is built on landmark victories in Nigeria’s most significant legal battles, including cases against the late General Sani Abacha across Nigerian courts and at the ECOWAS Court,” Suraju said.
Highlighting his global recognition, CSNAC recalled that Falana was awarded “Outstanding Human Rights Lawyer” by the International Bar Association (IBA) in 2008, acknowledging his decades of outstanding work in public interest litigation and legal advocacy.
The coalition also criticised what it called a worrying trend of political figures attempting to discredit dissenting voices through media attacks and character assassination.
“Falana has consistently defended the rights of students, workers, journalists, and civil society organisations long before such causes gained mainstream popularity. His courtroom activism and principled legal interpretations have helped shape Nigeria’s constitutional and democratic journey,” the statement added.
Suraju further questioned the moral standing of Wike’s camp to criticise Falana, noting the irony of individuals who “have done little for democracy except building courtrooms for judges and allocating illegally occupied lands to the judiciary” attempting to dictate who deserves respect in the legal profession.
CSNAC urged Nigerians to see through the distractions and called on public officials to prioritise governance over political witch-hunts.
“Falana’s voice may be inconvenient for the powerful, but it remains popular and essential for the survival of our democracy,” the statement concluded.
